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CAROLINE NICHOLS CHURCHILL 
At Forty Years. 



ACTIVE 
FOOTSTEPS 



BY 

CAROLINE NICHOLS CHURCHILL 

Author of 

"Little Sheaves," "Over the Purple Hills," 
"Class Legislation," Etc. 



Editor and Proprietor of 

"The Antelope," a Monthly Published Three Years, 
and "The Queen Bee," Estabhshed 1879, De- 
voted to the Interests of Humanity, 
Woman's PoHtical Equality 
and Individuality. 



$ 



COLORADO SPRINGS 

MRS, C. N, CHURCHILL, Publisher 
1909 






Copyright, 1909 
By Mrs. C. n. Churchill 






lA \ 



JUL 14 1909 



ft- 



Irteattott 



TO THE RAILROAD MEN OF THE WEST 

THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS DEDICATED BY THE AUTHOR. 

A FRIEND OF THE WORKINGMEN 

THE WORLD OVER. 



PKEFACE. 



This book is biographical : is written to portray 
the career of the author. The style preferred is 
of the third person, that, as much as possible, the 
ego might be hidden. The statements are facts, 
as they have occurred in most original methods 
of conducting business. No method of doing busi- 
ness by man would be considered original ; as he 
is in possession of all the avenues of influence, 
he can exploit land and sea, and practice most 
doubtful methods of procuring a livelihood, with- 
out question so far as a matter of taste is con- 
cerned, and all too frequently without regard to 
principle. The brainiest woman living is sup- 
posed to do nothing only what she is expected 
to do, as her training has been in the interests 
of a dominant class. For the flattering of man^s 
vanities it is reiterated, time without end, that 
any woman who will conduct herself properly can 
travel anywhere in the United States of America 
without molestation. As the poor darkey said 
to the judge, "The facts in this case are not true.'' 
Women need to give this subject attention in the 



interest of their own sex. Learn what it means 
to be constantly coached in the interests of a 
dominant class. Women of sense will not become 
the tools of the vicious, but a fool can be coached 
without knowing the object of the schemer. 

If men had to do their vile work without the 
assistance of woman and the stimulant of strong 
drink they would be obliged to be more divine 
and less brutal. The question of the servant girl 
would be three-fourths settled if woman would 
give the servant the protection to which even the 
nurse girl is entitled. Slavery of any character 
is a most pitiable condition : that of woman keeps 
the entire race at a low standard. Man has done 
more for humanity in the last hundred years, 
since woman began to have influence from the 
fact of being educated, than has been accom- 
plished in two thousand years previously. The 
race would be vastly benefited if women were 
better protected in their enterprises, as she is the 
unselfish dispenser of all earthly gifts to the 
race; and, with her advancement in educational 
matters, man is bound to produce a civilization 
embracing the brotherhood of the entire race, 
which will result in causing the wants of one the 
care of all. May the unseen forces speed the day 
when man shall not be an unmitigated falsifier 
that he may live by wronging his fellows. This 
is an epitome of the earnest prayer of every 



mother living who has sufficient spirituality to 
make a prayer. 

The author of this work has been obliged to do 
a traveling business for half a century, because 
of the physical necessity of being as much as pos- 
sible in the open air. The work has been made 
doubly hard from the fact that women have no 
legal protection when in a strange community, 
and because women are so easily influenced to 
help in her degradation. The feminine sex are 
improving in this respect, beginning to see the 
necessity of defending their own. Woman in a 
strange community is supposed to be guilty until 
proved innocent, while man is supposed to be 
innocent until proven guilty. That a woman's 
virtue must depend upon her having a chaperone 
is too absurd for contemplation. The work per- 
formed by nuns may be accomplished in the pres- 
ence of a tag, but man or woman who has any- 
thing to do in the way of legitimate business must 
give undivided attention to the same for success. 
I kept a record of my whereabouts for twelve 
years before establishing a paper in Denver; in 
case there should be malicious talk from respon- 
sible parties a rational defense might be made. 
Crows are liable to fly over anyone's head, with 
crow talk. The only remedy for this is to kill 
the crows. Unless the crops are in danger a crow 
is not worth killing. 



CONTENTS. 



Chapter. Page. 

Frontispiece — Mrs. Ctiurcliill at Forty Years. 

I. Sketch of Author's Life 13 

II. The Perils of Sleigh Riding 26 

III. Indian War in Minnesota 35 

IV. Winona, Minnesota 46 

V. True Short Stories 52 

1. A Story of Lydia Thompson's Time 54 

2. The Bed Slipper 55 

3. The Resting Oxen 56 

4. Race Characteristics 57 

5. The Harnessed Dog 58 

VI. The Farce Trial 60 

Picture .opp. 64 

VII. The Grass Valley Boarding House 65 

VIII. Starting a Paper 78 

IX. Reminiscences 93 

1. The Gifted Widow 94 

2. The Hebrew Printer 98 

3. A Termagant 101 

4. A New Printer 110 

X. Printing Office Experiences 113 

1. Making a Home 113 

XI. San Juan County, Colorado 131 

1. The Kindergarten Children 139 

2. The Broken Girth 140 

XII. Ironton and Ouray 148 

1. A Perilous Trip 149 

2. The Professional Men 151 

3. The Snowslide 151 

4. "Billy," the Snowslide Lamb 152 

5. Chief Ouray and His Wife, Chepita 153 

6. Marriage of Widow of Chief Ouray 154 



Chapter. Page. 

XIII. Beech Nutting 155 

XIV. Maple Sugar 162 

XV. Miscellaneous 167 

1. Dentistry 167 

XVI. The Silver Panic 172 

XVII. Travels in New Mexico 176 

XVIII. An Active Boy 186 

XIX. Accidents in Colorado 192 

1. First Trip to Georgetown 192 

XX. The Boulder Episode 196 

XXI. Going Driving — ^A Song 200 

XXII. A Runaway Horse 201 

XXIII. A Railroad Disaster 205 

XXIV. A Retreating Campaign 209 

1. A Woman's Convention 210 

2. Development of Woman Suffrage in Colo- 

rado 212 

3. Licensed Rowdyism 215 

XXV. The Song of "Sarah Jane" Hen 216 

XXVI. The Soap Weed Man— A Song 219 

XXVII. The Difference— A Song 220 

XXVIII. A Trip Up the Red River 221 

XXIX. Ode to the Fleetness of the Summer Months. .225 

XXX. Plaint of the Rejected Mirror 226 

XXXI. The Clothes Pin World 228 

XXXII. Strawberrying 232 

XXXIII. The Spotted Pony .240 

XXXIV. Monte Diablo 244 

XXXV. Life Sketches 252 

1. Assisting Gifted Girls 252 

2. A Remarkable Memory 253 

3. The Irish Famine 254 

4. The Convalescent at Alpine, Colo 255 

5. The Royal Gorge 257 

6. Canon City — ^A Poem 258 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS 



CHAPTER I. 



Sketch of Author^s Life. 

Mrs. Caroline Nichols Churchill was born in the 
township of Pickering, Upper Province of Can- 
ada, December 23, 1833. 

Her parents were originally from the United 
States of America. Her father, Barbour Nichols, 
served in the United States in the War of 1812, 
and was honorably discharged on the borders of 
Canada about the time Tecumseh the Shaw- 
nese chief was killed. Her father met and mar- 
ried his first wife in Canada. This resulted in 
a residence of forty years in a foreign country. 
Mrs. Churchill's mother was the second wife, and 
from a family of wealthy Pennsylvania farmers 
of Holland and German stock. The father having 
served as a soldier in the war of the Revolution, 
Mrs. Churchill remembers well the maternal 
grandmother as a pensioner for her husband's 
services in the war which brought independence 
to this country. Mrs. Churchill also knew her 
father to have a pension for his services in the 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

War of 1812. The Holland and German stock 
were the people of strong purpose and eternal 
diligence ; the father stock were intellectual. His 
father was a naval officer; had his commission 
from George the Third. He came to help subdue 
the rebellion against the mother country, and, 
with his wife, settled in Khode Island. Mrs. 
Churchill's father was born in Providence, K. I., 
1785. Died 1885. Lived a hundred years. 

There are people who would like to know how 
Mrs. Churchill spent her childhood days. By 
helping to do everything she was able to do where 
there is a large family with moderate means. 

All families, unless very wealthy, are reared 
on the socialistic plan: Every individual must 
contribute to his or her share of care, work and 
responsibility as soon as old enough. It is the 
only way the great mass of the human family can 
be reared. Mrs. Churchill's mother was the 
second wife of an elderly man, her father being 
nearly fifty years of age when she was born. The 
children of this match were generally gifted, but 
not vigorous physically. In writing of what will 
seem a long time ago, it must be remembered that 
Andrew Jackson was serving his second term as 
President of the United States the year of Mrs. 

14 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

ChurchilPs birth. The nation was comparatively 
young, poor and ignorant. There were not the 
opportunities for education or the acquisition of 
wealth that now exists. Mrs. Churchill and 
sisters were called upon to help weed garden, to 
drop corn, to make and mend family clothing — 
no small matter before the sewing machine ap- 
peared. Elias Howe's sewing machine first ap- 
peared in 1841, but many years elapsed before the 
invention came into general use. The family stock- 
ing yarn was spun at home in those days, and 
the knitting of socks and stockings was no small 
job for a good old-fashioned family. In the early 
forties the manufacturers began to buy up the 
wool, so that women and girls had more leisure. 
The pastime of this particular family was reading 
the New York Ledger, the Herald, and Tribune, 
and any religious paper that came to hand. Mrs. 
Churchill finds it the custom of men with large 
and expensive families to hie themselves to some 
remote corner of the earth, that the family may 
be reared with less expense. Especially does this 
method occur in age, when great effort is no 
longer possible. Where the subject of this sketch 
lived schools were scarce and of not much ac- 
count. At the age of thirteen Mrs. Churchill was 

15 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

sent to her maternal grandmother in the United 
States, where she had the benefit of a few months 
of a good public school, and improved the oppor- 
tunity, to the astonishment of the home folks. 
When she returned, at the age of fourteen, weigh- 
ing seventy-five pounds, was engaged to teach a 
private school in the neighborhood. The people 
requested this, and the mother consented, saying, 
"If she tires of it she can give it up.'' This school 
proved more of a success than many things un- 
dertaken later in life. The child was a natural 
reader and a good speller for her years and oppor- 
tunities. She knew the multiplication table and 
the four ground rules, with much hesitation. 
About the best of her accomplishments was the 
ability to recite a great number of stories ver- 
bally, and all the nursery rhymes then procur- 
able, and to sing twenty-five songs and an in- 
numerable number of hymns. The family, the 
church and the school had only vocalism in those 
days, as the star of Jenny Lind had just appeared, 
and had not shone long enough to enlighten the 
people upon the importance of instrumental 
music in the family or church and the school. 
Twenty-five dollars was the compensation for 
three months' teaching. There were very few 

16 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

appropriate school books for children; every- 
thing but spellers seemed to be made for grown 
people. Mrs. Churchill's pupils, twelve in num- 
ber, brought anything they had at all suitable for 
child reading, even to nursery rhymes. Dick 
Whittington, Kobinson Crusoe and the story of 
Blue Beard were the classics*for the children of 
her time and locality. Sometimes the little 
teacher would get out of sight in the morning and 
shed a few childish tears, because dreading the 
responsibility of her daily task. The mother 
usually appeared upon these scenes with words 
of encouragement, saying, "You know that you 
enjoy the school when in session as well as you 
could possibly enjoy the camp meetings you hold 
when at play on the intervale, where the timber 
lands echo your voices so gloriously. You sing as 
if to the stars in the schoolroom; you certainly 
ought to be happy if it is noise you enjoy.'' This 
little talk usually restored calmness and the nec- 
essary vim to face another day's work. The 
young people heard more sermons than anything 
else, consequently were greatly given to singing, 
preaching and praying. Holding funeral services 
was a favorite pastime. This seemed to partake 
of the tragic, which is certainly an element of 

17 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

human tastes. At last the end of this school term 
came. Several of the mothers were present to 
witness the closing exercises, and expressed them- 
selves well pleased with the progress the children 
had made. Some one says, "What did you do 
with the money?" Never troubled about that; 
teaching the school was her part of the affair; 
the mother took charge of the financial part of 
the undertaking, and nothing was thought of it. 
The children had been drilled with all the energy 
of which the young teacher was capable. Mother's 
sitting room was the schoolroom. Mrs. Churchill 
was congratulated upon the fact that she could 
board at home, as it was customary for teachers 
to board around; however tired, entertain the 
neighborhood evenings, and sleep with the chil- 
dren at night. Things have changed for the bet- 
terment of the condition of teachers, and yet 
there is great chance for improvement. Mrs. 
Churchill was considered eccentric, as people 
usually are who have studious habits and some 
idea of the value of time, caring more for books 
than for dress or spending time on dress parade. 
It is said she could never be induced to wear kid 
gloves, because it took too much of her valuable 
time to put them on and off. Because of exclu- 

18 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

siveness in childhood, she was dubbed "The 
Lady/' which was taken, not as a compliment, 
but as cruel satire. Mrs. Churchill was married 
in the early fifties. People did not know what 
else to do with girls, as there were few avenues of 
employment for them. A husband was selected, 
and, however inappropriate^ the girl was expected 
to conform to the condition. Anna Dickenson, 
a young Quaker woman, of great ability as an 
orator, appeared about this time,1855, and, with 
the help of other able orators, succeeded in get- 
'ting a number of avenues of employment opened 
to women, and helped create a public sentiment 
in behalf of the colored slave. Things have been 
improving ever since for all mankind, as far 
as sentiment can make for the better. Mrs. 
Churchill had but eleven or twelve years of mar- 
ried life; her husband died in the early sixties, 
leaving a young daughter to rear. The young 
men, pioneers of a new country^ were speculating 
in real estate, and, as panics are created for the 
purpose of catching the unwary, all were finan- 
cially ruined. In 1860 the North and South were 
splitting hairs over technicalities; later they got 
down to what men call business, what women 
know to be very poor management. This, how- 

19 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ever, puts the countrT in a perilous condition and 
makes things hard for women and children. 
With the Civil War and the Indian Avars some 
localities were in a very bad plight for several 
vears. Mrs. Churchill taught in summer and did 
family seA^ing winters when the weather was too 
severe for teaching, using every spare moment 
for study. It is strange to contemplate how little 
sympathy or encouragement the great mass of 
people have with one who differs from them in 
tastes, to the extent of desiring an education, 
while they are content with little or none. This 
may arise from the fact that so many people 
think thev have not the abilitv to use more than 
thev have ; and mav to some extent be true. For 
the practice of composition the keeping of a diary 
was severelv condemned bv a ladv who o'ave her 
employment, although it was not done in working 
hours; the ladv considered the time of an em- 

7 e 

ploye hers for entertainment. ^The keeping of 
a diarv could onlv be a waste of time, as it would 
never be read after being written.-' The diary 
was concluded at the end of an eventful year, and 
read by the very person making the objections, 
and loaned to her friends until it disappeared, 
after the manner of very many full-fledged books. 

20 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

In this day and age a woman does not quite be- 
long to others unless she is a society woman or 
a school teacher. Teachers can be found in many 
parts of the country dying of tuberculosis, who 
have been killed by being called upon to enter- 
tain the idle, after exhausted with the day's 
duties. Mrs. Churchill came to the conclusion 
that a woman with minor children to care for 
should be a pensioner. Men do not want her as 
a competitor in business, and it is certainly very 
unfair to expect her to perform the duties of men 
without either opportunity or protection. Men 
certainly make themselves very ridiculous in 
their worry about race suicide, when no effort of 
a practical character is ever made whereby thou- 
sands might be saved from untimely deaths from 
unavoidable poverty. 

Mrs. Churchill's only living child chanced to 
be strong and healthy, so that, in some respects, 
the conditions were not so burdensome as many 
a poor mother endures. Mrs. Churchill was never 
in a state of health to take much responsibility 
in the way of business, especially if the occupa- 
tion should require indoor labor. 

The time came when a married sister could 
give her daughter a home indefinitely. This 

21 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

gave the mother an opportunity for something 
in the way of preparing herself for occupa- 
tions that would at least give a chance for 
something better than a state of invalidism. Cali- 
fornia climate was tried. The outdoor life was 
the only means by which even fair health could 
be maintained, so canvassing was resorted to for 
an occupation. The sea did not agree with this 
case, at the same time the outdoor occupation did 
for summer employment. When winter came the 
exposure of travel was abandoned for study in 
doors. This was the time Mrs. Churchill devoted 
to getting out her own books — little descriptive 
works, that pleased the people of that locality, 
and they sold readily. The Californians are the 
most generous, genial and hospitable folks to be 
found in any country. Mrs. Churchill declares 
there is something in that climate that causes its 
inhabitants to appreciate the good qualities of 
others that she has never observed to the same 
extent elsewhere. Mrs. Churchill was in Cali- 
fornia from 1870 until 1876. The reason of her 
change of home was because of finding a climate 
better suited to her constitutional peculiarities. 
A high altitude and dry climate made more dif- 

22 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

ference in her whole life than she ever thought 
possible in any country on earth. 

Here is a little personal sketch that may be of 
interest to some reader of this book. Mrs. 
Churchill is in height five feet and four inches; 
bust measure, thirty-two inches; waist, twenty- 
nine. Kather small hands and feet. Fair skin, 
with very red lips, but little color in face. Rare 
white hands. Very brown hair, one of the light 
nut brown shades, not very abundant ; study ever 
caused it to fall. Eyes an intellectual gray, with 
drooping lids. Nose rather small, known as a fine 
nose. Lips full, with strong teeth, rather in- 
clined to be what is known as "out mouthed.'^ 
Chin large enough for firmness, with genial ex- 
pression and pleasant smile. Head measures 
twenty-one and a half inches around, which is 
average; fourteen and seven-eighths inches from 
center of ear, which is more than average. Neck, 
twelve and a half inches. Great animation in 
countenance when talking. Her chief attraction. 
Constitution rather light; health seldom perfect. 
A student by mental temperament. Not mathe- 
matical nor mechanical, but an abstract reasoner. 
Order of brain, statesmanship, philosophical and 
poetical. Not really great in anything but perse- 

23 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

verance, firmness and self-respect. Longs for a 
more ideal civilization. Is so much in earnest 
upon this point as to give the best years of her 
life towards this attainment. Naturally peace- 
able in disposition. Had the reputation in early 
life of never striking a brother or sister or a pet 
of any description, nor forgiving an insult or in- 
jury. Later in life, with a larger mental growth, 
finds no one of sufficient importance to hate. 
Her self-esteem looks upon the human family as 
too insignificant, and irresponsible, to even de- 
spise. Charity covers the entire race. Tempera- 
ment, emotional, sympathies easily excited. Has 
a strong sense of self-preservation. In childhood 
seldom took risks that children do, in climbing, 
jumping from high places, and so forth. Was 
called lazy, and an inveterate old granny, for the 
above reasons. Was quiet and retiring, prefer- 
ring books and music to society. Early in life 
was dubbed "strong minded." Had very little 
interest in neighborhood topics. Was distin- 
guished for speeches remarkable. Was never 
popular; there was nothing in it, for this indi- 
viduality. Had a remarkable musical voice, for 
strength and sweetness. A memory that few 
could equal in the way of events of general im- 

24 



SKETCH OF AUTHOR^S LIFE. 

portance and statistics, but could not remember 
the component parts of sour milk griddle cakes, 
until age developed stronger will power. 



2& 



CHAPTER II. 



The Perils of Sleigh-hiding. 

Mrs. Churchill says she does not care for 
sleigh-riding, in fact would rather never see 
snow; she gives an experience which settled this 
matter with her for all time. Sleigh-riding is 
ever a fashionable amusement in snowy latitudes. 
The Upper province of Canada, now known as 
Ontario, was the scene of this narrative. Cousin 
Asa was going to Skugog Island on business, and 
wanted Mrs. Churchill's father to accompany 
him. The father was not long in discovering 
that he also had some collecting to do upon the 
Island. This chanced to be the birth day of the 
subject of this sketch, her twelfth, and she began 
to believe herself quite a young lady. The mother 
interceded in behalf of two of the little girls ; as 
the weather was pleasant there seemed no ob- 
jection to giving the children an outing, it was 
so near the Christmas Holidays, December 23rd. 

There were friends upon the Island who would 
be glad to entertain the children for the few 
hours of their stay. The young folks danced with 

26 



THE PERILS OF SLEIGH-RIDING. 

glee, as the real holiday spirit was abroad, and 
the thought of a fifteen mile ride in one day, and 
back the next, was fraught with a world of nov- 
elty. The probabilities of a safe journey were 
thoroughly discussed by the wisdom of the assem- 
bly, and the young people dressed out for the 
occasion in warm, home-spun clothing; there 
were thick hoods and warm cloaks, and stockings 
were drawn over the shoes, in place of overshoes. 
There was little attempt at display on such oc- 
casions at any time, and least of all when visit- 
ing on this Island of uneuphonious cognomen, as 
the people were very plain, living mostly by 
spearing fish through the ice in winter and trap- 
ping fur-bearing animals. 

The men of the party were thought by the 
children to be great, kingly-looking fellows, al- 
though they now know neither were over five 
feet five and a half. To the young girls their 
father and wealthy farmer cousin were the em- 
bodiment of all manly virtues, wisdom and great- 
ness. The father was dressed in homespun grey, 
with an overcoat made of buffalo skins, with col- 
lar and cap to match ; his leggings were of wool 
sheep skin. The cousin wore a great coat of grey 
homespun, with leggings and overshoes that made 

27 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

his legs look like the picture of a polar bear. The 
horses were big, blooded bays, each wearing a 
string of bells that could be heard for more than 
a mile. Robes were in abundance, consisting of 
homespun kersey blankets woven with a twill, 
buffalo and bear skin robes, cushions and feather 
pillows. It was well this party were to remain 
over night, as the days are short in those lati- 
tudes, especially both sides of the holidays. There 
is not much time for keeping the lamps trimmed 
for burning to lighten the long evening's work. 
The young folks w^ere placed in the body of the 
sleigh, as it was thought they could hold the 
covering over themselves better than if occupying 
a seat. The children were full of giggle and 
cheap wit, the latter being jfired unsparingly at 
the two monarchs on the front seat. One said 
"they looked like great bears when in reality they 
were only old dears.'' The little folks were en- 
thusiastically happy at the turn affairs had taken 
to give them such an unexpected treat. The main 
comfort of child life is that they know nothing 
of the comedies and tragedies of life. The com- 
edy is all they care to see. "Hope springs eter- 
nal" or what were the use of trying existence? 

28 



THE PERILS OF SLEIGH-RIDING. 

As the afternoon advanced it became colder. 
There were nine miles to be traversed on the open 
ice before the other side of the Island could be 
reached. Just before going upon this expanse of 
ice a wayside inn appeared. This place was either 
called the "Last Chance" or "The Dew Drop 
Inn." The children were too unsophisticated to 
understand the nature of the joking sign, and too 
cold to ask the usual quota of questions ; but for 
these facts the true name would not at this date 
have been mixed with doubt. The entire party 
alighted at the Inn and refreshed themselves, as 
was customary in the dark old days of whiskey 
toddies or rum punches. The father of the young 
girls was a church member in good standing, but 
in those days the church never meddled with a 
man's politics unless it should interfere with the 
minister's salary. In that case it might be 
^^ different/' There was a little jug in the sleigh, 
holding about a quart, a type of the much sung 
"Little Brown Jug." This was brought from 
its hiding and filled with what was understood 
to be the real "Highland Dew." This narrative 
will prove that men were the same order of graft- 
ers in ye old time as at present. What was con- 
sumed in the house at the time, no doubt from 

29 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the necessities of the occasion, was genuine, as it 
required much diluting for the younger members 
of the company. As the well warmed party re- 
turned to the sleigh the landlord remarked : "It 
will be a cold ride away from the sheltering tim- 
ber." Continued he, "You will be obliged to face 
the bleak north wind for about nine miles. The 
ice carries a great deal of snow, and the drive 
will be slow, try as you will. You cannot reach 
your destination until dark, and do your best. 
Look to the little girls often." This was the ad- 
monition of one who lived near the lake, and had 
become weather wise in regard to the location. 
As soon as the ice was reached a change came over 
the entire party. The huge horses settled down 
to hard pulling. The bells were less musical. 
The giggling of the young folks ceased. The 
whole party seemed to feel impending trouble, 
the nature of which could not be remedied by dis- 
cussion. The sleigh creaked and groaned as it 
labored through the obstructed road. The ice 
occasionally cracked with a booming noise, like 
the distant roar of thunder or booming of cannon. 
Great crevices appeared in the icy road, which 
the horses evidently understood, as they passed 
over them without seeming to notice anything 

30 



THE PERILS OF ^SLEIGH-RIDING. 

remarkable. The children were afterwards told 
that the fishes could not live in the waters O/f 
these small lakes but for those great cracks in 
the ice, which brought them fresh air. Occasion- 
ally the young folks peeped out enough to see 
the fishermen's huts upon the ice, where they 
were sheltered while taking the big salmon trout 
and other fishes. The horses had changed color 
so that their own groom would scarcely have 
known them. From handsome bays they had be- 
come as white as the beard of Santa Clans. The 
hard pulling had made them sweat ; the frost had 
done the rest. The faithful creatures snorted 
frequently to keep their nostrils free from ice. 
The two monarchs on the driver's seat resembled 
polar bears more than ever, their headgear being 
more or less covered with frost, and something 
like anchor ice. 

The father turned frequently to the little girls, 
evidently with anxiety, wishing mentally, with- 
out doubt, that they had remained at home. Mat- 
tie, the younger child, was of a very active tem- 
perament, and did her best to make things lively. 
When about half the distance had been gone over 
the lake, she shouted as if the necessity were a 
very urgent one : ^Tather and Cousin Asa, is it 

31 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

not time to try the little brown jug? I am cold 
and need something to warm me up." The father 
passed the little jug, saying as he did so, "Get 
the cork out if you can." Mattie was equal to 
the occasion, but quickly returned it, saying, "It 
is frozen up." The jug was returned to its for- 
mer resting place with a frozen bounce. The 
quality of that "Mountain Dew" was said to be 
"strained." The father remarked that there was 
little danger of this branch of the family freezing 
to death, but the other child would lie there and 
perish without demonstration. 

At length the journey came to an end. The 
destination was reached. Mattie was first out of 
the sleigh to announce the coming of the others. 
The subject of this sketch was found to be un- 
conscious, and with much anxiety carried into 
the house. When she regained her senses a large 
open fire-place with a well constructed wood fire 
was the first thing that met her gaze. Her hands 
and feet were undergoing manipulation. "She 
is not frozen," said the father, "only chilled," but 
ten minutes more might have finished her 
career." 

Next day home was reached without unpleasant 
experiences, as the ride was in the forenoon. 

32 



THE PERILS OF SLEIGH-RIDING. 

Mrs. Churchill has never since been partial to 
snow or ice, or sleigh-riding. 

The temperance people who read this sketch 
can take heart at the way they have changed 
public sentiment in the last half century. Mrs. 
Churchill is not one who thinks reforms come 
without effort or agitation. The very sentiment 
against strong drinks was brought about by per- 
sistent effort on the part of intelligent women 
and the churches they represent. There has been 
accomplished in the last hundred years more for 
humanity and more in discovery and invention 
than was brought about in two thousand years of 
entire man management. Within a hundred years 
woman's education has created an influence that 
no half-civilized nation has experienced. Note 
the difference ! The wisest of men begin to think 
that no nation can long continue in development 
of its greatest achievements or possibilities with- 
out the councils of a womanhood of sufficient 
influence to help mould national affairs. There 
are now influences at work to belittle the masses 
of mankind and keep them for drudges. But if 
woman continues in mental development there 
will be found a remedy for most of the serious 

33 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

social ills that exist. We are living out the adage 
all have heard reiterated so many times, that two 
heads are better than one if one is a woman's. 



84 



CHAPTER III. 



The Indian War in Minnesota. 

It was the latter part of August, 1862. The 
Governor of the state sent word to the people 
that it were better in some localities for the 
inhabitants to leave the country for a time at 
least, as it would be impossible to give them pro- 
tection in their own homes. Mrs. Churchill was 
teaching in a country place, but near a post office, 
where the possibility of getting the latest intelli- 
gence was much better than in most localities. 
One beautiful hazy day in August a band of In- 
dians came in sight of the schoolhouse, dis- 
mounted from their ponies, placing their guns 
across the back of their steeds and began firing. 
Although they were quite a distance from the 
house, the children could not be detained. The 
grass over a greater part of the country was yet 
wild and tall. In two minutes there was not a 
child in sight. Mrs. Churchill concluded that she 
would hold the fort by hiding behind the open 
door, as this gave the room the appearance of 
having been vacated. The teacher hardly be- 

35 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

lieved that an attack would be made this time of 
day, as the harvest v^as going on and there were 
many persons in the fields that could have been 
assembled for defense against so small a band. 
Next day, however, eight families had concluded 
to vacate. The pigs were let out of their pens, 
the canary birds were set free, the horses were 
harnessed to all manner of vehicles and the cattle 
were driven as an asset, as money was very scarce 
in a community of pioneers. It was dif&cult to 
make any progress through several days' journey, 
because of the great anxiety of the people living 
along the road to get the latest information from 
the seat of war. The train was constantly stop- 
ping, until the men became accustomed to the 
situation and learned to manage by cutting the 
questioners very short. All kinds of rumors 
were afloat. It would seem that frightening 
women with unnecessary fiction was a part of 
Indian warfare. 

The first night out was spent in a house 
deserted the day before, for the same reason that 
others were left. For the first few days those 
starting from the same neighborhood remained to- 
gether. Some had friends they could tarry with un- 
til something definite could be determined upon. 

36 



THE INDIAN WAR IN MINNESOTA. 

Mrs. Churchill's party was bound for Winona, 
Minn. The first night out there was a larger num- 
ber to be fed and sheltered than at any time dur- 
ing the trip. Mrs. Churchill was the most mature 
woman in the caravan who had no young chil- 
dren to care for, nor any one specially to look 
after when tired out from cattle driving, so took 
it upon herself to superintend what was needing 
general supervision. Clean straw was brought 
from lately-threshed stacks and an abundance of 
it put upon the upper and the lower floors of the 
house; as there were only two rooms, both of 
goodly proportions, the carpeting was easily ac- 
complished. The women took entire charge of 
the upper floor, while the men occupied the entire 
lower part. In making arrangements for supper 
the women did themselves credit by getting up a 
lug pole that would hold two great kettles that 
had been used for rendering lard. Then a fire 
like a small log heap made it possible for every 
one to get an ear of boiled corn and potatoes for 
their need. These necessities were foraged from 
an immense field adjoining the house. Everybody 
who had anything to say remarked, "that if the 
people were at home we would pay for this; but 
as they are not, we will forage, as it is war time V^ 

37 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

This excuse served to palliate the conscience, 
not yet hardened to the situation. The men 
vi^ere hungry and cross as bears. No one thought 
it at all strange, considering the day's work. The 
women spread their tablecloths with what had 
been brought from their homes, but the hot corn 
and potatoes were not slighted, much being eaten 
before entirely cooked. While occasionally one 
congratulated himself upon still wearing his 
scalp, word went around that a little five-year-old 
boy, belonging to this company, was missing, and 
so far all efforts to find him had been unavailing. 
Sad news, to say the least. The mother was then 
nursing her tenth child. Not a man in the travel- 
ing company would consent to look for the lost 
baby. The men folks of that family were not 
along. Probably left at home to care for prop- 
erty, as some were sending their families to places 
of safety, while they themselves took refuge in 
a primitive fort at night and defended prop- 
erty as best they could under the circumstances. 
The men of this company had walked all day 
and driven cattle ; it was not a matter of wonder 
that they did not "enthuse" over the prospect of 
a night spent prowling in the cornfields or tall 
grass for a child, dead or dead asleep. A few 

38 



THE INDIAN WAR IN MINNESOTA. 

of the women who knew what a child means to 
a mother attempted the pig paths until they 
found themselves as liable to get lost in the ap- 
proaching darkness and tall grass as the child. 
The mother was prevailed upon to retire, as fret- 
ting would only endanger the infant in her arms. 
The theory was accepted that the child had fallen 
asleep, as no child of &Ye years would be liable 
to remain long awake after his bed time and such 
an exciting day's experience. The young boys 
had discovered wild plums in abundance and had 
gone forth in great anticipation, the little one as 
enthusiastic as any, but when the children were 
ready to return to green corn and potatoes the 
youngest had gone from sight and did not answer 
to the calling of the others. Mrs. Churchill had 
noticed some fattening hogs that had been turned 
loose the day before. These creatures were amus- 
ing themselves tearing at the stacks of newly 
harvested grain, running and snorting as if ready 
for any vicious fun. Mrs. Churchill says she 
would have been afraid to encounter one of them. 
It occurred to her that these swine would be the 
most dangerous things that could come to the 
exhausted child. No one else seemed to have 
thought of this, so there was nothing said about 
the matter. 

o9 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

A vacated butter tub was secured and when 
all was quiet Mrs. Churchill took her seat on the 
butter tub by a gable window, in order to hear if 
the child made an outcry. Tired almost to the 
limit of endurance, this vigil was kept up until 
four o'clock in the morning. At about this time a 
rustling was heard in the tall corn, a six-foot man 
emerged, carrying a burden across his neck. As 
he approached, the window being open, he was 
asked if he had the lost child. I have a boy, he 
said, that I found asleep upon my doorstep when 
opening up. I concluded that he belonged here, as 
I saw a camp fire early in the evening. He was 
told to go to the door and arouse some of the 
men so that the child could be brought upstairs. 
Mrs. Churchill was at the stair door to receive 
him and place him in the bed with his mother. 
All was well, so there was no call for much 
demonstration. The child had followed a pig 
path until the hut of a man was reached. This 
man had been left to look after the property, and 
his temporary shelter had been located as far 
as possible from the public road, as he would be 
more liable to escape an attack if the hostiles 
chanced that way. The child was not of a talk- 
ative turn, so little could be learned from him 

40 



THE INDIAN WAR IN MINNESOTA. 

of his wanderings, or of his fears, but this much 
is certain, he made great effort, as the man in 
charge of the cornfields said it was certainly 
nine o'clock when he retired and he was quite 
sure the child was not upon the door step at that 
time. 

The saddest story of this retreating campaign 
has yet to be told. Several mothers lost their 
youngest children from cholera-infantum. The 
hardships were too much for the little ones to 
bear and live. There was a very interesting lit- 
tle girl of three years in the family with whom 
Mrs. Churchill made her home while teaching the 
school so rudely broken up. The stork came very 
late in life to the old people who were the parents 
of this dear little girl ; the father over sixty, the 
mother forty-six years of age. Children are 
seldom more welcome than was little Cora. With 
a lovely disposition, she was rollickingly funny 
in her amusements, with a wonderful gift of 
mimicry. When engaged in anything requiring 
dignity of deportment, she was not wanting. 
These people kept the post office for that section, 
and when there was a call for mail Cora fre- 
quently stated to the parties in advance in the 
most approved manner, calling the parties by 

41 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

name: ^'Mrs. Jones, there is a letter for you," 
or "Mr. Stewart, you will find papa in the field 
at work." The next youngest in the family was 
a sister of sixteen. Cora began the day with a 
romping play, usually with this big sister. Some 
one would tell her that it was time sister and 
school "Marm" were up, as they might be too 
late for breakfast. Cora had been instructed as 
to the most effective way of getting people up in 
the morning. It was to throw a little water upon 
them. Cora had a gill cup from which she took 
her draught of new milk. This was before time 
for her milk, so she started for sister's room, the 
stair door being opened to give her a fair chance. 
Sister and the school "Marm" could hear her 
chuckle of delight as she started out on such an 
audacious undertaking. By the time the rooms 
were reached the cup would not have more than 
half a dozen drops, as most of it had been spilled 
upon her own '^nighty." She chuckled so hard 
over her scheming that her hand was not at all 
steady. She made her demand; that sister and 
school "Marm" get up "or she would souse them." 
She knew this was child's play, so did her best to 
make the few drops of water go around, throwing 
it so at random that seldom a drop took effect. 

42 



THE INDIAN WAR IN MINNESOTA. 

The child expressed a desire for a nice hat. 
There were no nice little hats to be had at the 
pioneer stores. It is likely there would be poor 
sale for such a class of goods, as in a country so 
new there were not many places for people to go, 
and the children could wear sunbonnets and go 
barefooted. There were none to be had short of 
Mankato, a town forty miles distant, and no one 
to send by to get one but some man, and millinery 
bought under such conditions was not at all 
likely to be very satisfactory. Mrs. Churchill 
had learned this business with sewing and straw 
dressing, as this used to be a part of millinery. 
One Saturday when there was time the old dis- 
carded bonnets were looked up and enough fancy 
French braid found for the desired hat. No time 
was lost that day, and before night the headgear 
was ready to wear, as the braid being a kind of 
straw lace required only sewing into shape. There 
was no time lost in bleaching and blocking, as 
this was not necessary. There was white satin 
ribbon enough to be found on the place to do the 
trimming. This little luxury was paraded for the 
admiration of every member of the family and 
any chance neighbor. In the child's jocose way, 
she pronounced the school "Marm'' "a pretty nice 

43 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

old fellow. '^ Before the hat could be worn at any 
regular doings the disturbing news of an Indian 
outbreak reached the settlement, and this family, 
with seven others, were bundled into any convey- 
ances convenient and hurried to places of safety. 
These people were in better shape in regard to 
vehicles than most of the others, having a horse 
and buggy aside from draught animals, which 
gave the women folks a chance for change from 
riding in a double wagon. Little Cora rode in 
the buggy at all times. 

As the hat was not suitable for wearing 
through a retreating campaign in Indian war- 
fare, the pioneer sunbonnet was substituted. 
There was no objection raised, proving this 
child's amiability. When asked if she was not 
warm or tired, she ever gave the same answer: 
"O, never mind; when we get to Winona I shall 
wear my new hat," and swing her feet back and 
forth to prove that hardships were nothing when 
compared with this stimulating hope. The child 
was ill when Winona was reached and suffered 
so terribly that the subject nearest the little 
heart was never again mentioned. Everything 
possible was done to save this bright human 
treasure, but to no avail. She lingered for sev- 

44 



THE INDIAN WAR IN MINNESOTA. 

eral days, as her constitution was an exception- 
ally strong one, and passed away without wearing 
her new hat. This young child, but three years 
of age, was so full of jolly fun, song and dance, 
laughter and mimicry, everything calculated to 
enliven the hard lines of human life. She has 
been missed and mourned for nearly half a cen- 
tury as few of the race are. The dearest sentence 
in the language to a woman is "My baby." 



45 



CHAPTER IV. 



Winona, Minnesota. 

The Winona people received the refugees 
kindly. Mrs. Churchill found a home in the fam- 
ily of Warren Powers, elderly people, refined and 
lovely. Mr. Powers was the nephew of President 
Millard Fillmore. The President exchanged vis- 
its with his nephew during his term of office. Mr. 
Powers was probate judge when Mrs. Churchill 
knew him, and showed an appreciation of the com- 
ing woman's influence by consulting "the strong 
minded,'' as brainy women are sometimes dubbed. 
There were decisions on the distribution of prop- 
erty in which women were, or should be as much 
interested as if it were a personal matter of their 
own. Men of brain and heart have ever realized 
the abject helplessness of woman when property 
was to be distributed among different claimants. 
A class must show themselves fit for something 
more than serfdom in order to get any recogni- 
tion of their rights at all. Women have proven 
what it is possible for them to do within the last 
fifty years. All women should take heart at what 

46 



WINONA^ MINNESOTA. 

has been done in making man superior to a 
drunken booby. This chapter shows one thing to 
be true of which men have accused woman so 
often, that is, being a sermonizer. Is it any 
wonder women preach, when for ages the preach- 
ing all seemed aimed at her defenseless head? It 
is the only method of which she is perfectly fa- 
miliar, and so long as she has been a patient 
sufferer from man's method of management, he 
should have the grace to submit when he sees his 
methods imitated. Mrs. Churchill says he does 
submit with a fair show of being susceptible of re- 
ceiving a higher education than the women of 
sixty years ago would have thought possible. Let 
us not be discouraged; he belongs to us at any 
rate, and it is our duty to make something of him 
if we can, and so long as he has the manhood to 
forego strong drink there is hope that some day 
we will have a civilization fit to live in. 

Mrs. Churchill ever remembers the people of 
Winona with a feeling of gratitude for the interest 
taken, and the appreciation of her own order of 
abilities. There are only a few who care to see 
character development. This was not the case with 
the people of Winona. There were many good in- 
tentions shown Mrs. Churchill while she tarried 

47 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

with them by the best class of people. But "there 
is a destiny that shapes our ends, rough hew them 
how we may.'' Mrs. Churchill made a sale of some 
property about this time, and wishing to have a 
permanent home for herself, was advised to seek 
an older and wealthier community to establish her 
business — millinery and dressmaking. In abil- 
ity she proved a success, but in a few months 
found anything requiring so much constant care, 
housing and close application; health must be sac- 
rificed, and in the end life. Mrs. Churchill always 
thought that a warmer climate would give her a 
better chance to do something worth while, as 
her health improved in warm weather. 

The people with whom Mrs. Churchill made her 
home while in Winona, Minn., had a sister who 
occasionally spent a winter with her brother, 
Warren Powers, she being also the niece of Presi- 
dent Fillmore, and mother of the Leeland hotel 
proprietor, who kept the Windsor in New York, 
that a few years ago was destroyed by fire. Mrs. 
Leeland at that time was an elderly matron, 
fine looking, well dressed and when telling 
short stories with her brother, a man over 
sixty years of age, they were a very in- 
teresting couple. Mr. Powers had some time 

48 



WINONA^ MINNESOTA. 

in early life served as clerk in a grocery 
store at some point where the Sleepy Hol- 
low, N. Y., people came to trade. His stories 
gleaned from real life were well worth hearing. 
It gives a sample of the way many of our ances- 
tors did economize when rearing their families, 
many of whom may now be leaders in this "great 
and glorious." (The sample.) Nearly through 
trading. He: "Mother, how are we fixed for 
knives and forks?" She: "I think we kin git 
along a spell yit. There is the butcher nife, shoe 
nife, pumpkin nife, cob handle and shackle back, 
Jim's nife without a handle. He don't care." 

As the subject of short stories has been men- 
tioned, I will here give some of Mrs. Churchill's. 
Going from a point on the railroad to 
Mineral City, Arizona, the transportation is 
by a local stage. Mrs. Churchill, in prais- 
ing the well-groomed team, found that the 
man was not only a driver, but the owner 
of the outfit, highly intelligent and an ideal wor- 
shiper of what we are pleased to term the lower 
order of animals. In the course of conversation 
he remarked : "I will show you my three owls 
about two o'clock this afternoon. Little birds 

49 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

that await by the wayside every day for my com- 
ing." The man had so many commissions to fill in 
the way of errands that Mrs. Churchill entirely 
forgot about the owls. At length two o'clock came 
and the horses halted at a bunch of chaprel. The 
man remarked : '^Therearemy owls." Sure enough 
there were the three little owls standing in the 
most perfect composure, basking in the most un- 
heard of confidence and blinking in the bright 
sunlight. They were serene, plump and billow^^, 
as if there were no ruffling of plumage or other 
distracting features to disturb the placid life of 
young owls in this part of the country. This was 
a picture that would have brought an exclama- 
tion of surprise and delight from an Audubon. 
Owls could never have appeared to a better ad- 
vantage. ''The Owl Man," as Mrs. Churchill has 
ever since designated him from the rest of human- 
ity, made the remark that he never cracked his 
whip at any animal or creature, nor did he ever 
speak harshly to them. Most animals show love, 
appreciation and thankfulness when well treated 
by the human lord. This proves beyond doubt that 
the lower order of animals well understands 
man's superior power over them. If man used 

50 



WINONA^ MINNESOTA. 

his power generally as a true king should, only 
destroying what he must in self-defense and not 
terrorizing any creature, we might enjoy a much 
happier world. 



bl 



CHAPTER V. 



True Short Stories. 

Several years later Mrs. Churchill was crossing 
the Courthouse square in the city of Los Angeles, 
Cal., when a well dressed gentleman accosted her 
by name, asking if she remembered the "Owl Man.'' 
"I most assuredly do," said Mrs. Churchill. "Is 
it possible my eyes again behold the ^Owl Man?' " 
After a cordial greeting the two seated them- 
selves on a settle and visited fifteen or twenty 
minutes, giving each their own modern history 
as transpired since the time of the owl episode. 
After a little detail of his late trip to China, 
Mrs. Churchill's sketch of her business enter- 
prises, the mutual admirers parted with good 
wishes exchanged, each presuming that this 
would be the final greeting on this terrestrial 
ball. Four or five years later Mrs. Churchill 
was ascending one of the hills at Leadville, Colo., 
when she noticed a citizen riding with the driver 
of an ore team, coming down the hill. The citi- 
zen hailed Mrs. Churchill, calling her name, 
and with the same interrogation asked if she still 

52 



TRUE SHORT STORIED. 

remembered the "Owl Man?'' "I do," was the 
response. "Are you the ^Owl Man?' " "I am," 
was the hurried answer, as the team trotted down 
the hill and Mrs. Churchill was going up the hill. 
There was no time for ancient or modern history. 
With a wave of the hands the two admirers 
parted, likely never to meet again unless it should 
be that he chance to read this chapter and take the 
trouble to come on purpose to see one who ad- 
mires a man not so much for his occupation as for 
his fine, manly, kingly traits. Mrs. Churchill does 
not know that she ever heard this man's name 
and certainly never expects to see him again, un- 
less in the "Sweet By and By," "where the wicked 
cease from troubling and the weary are at rest." 
It would be interesting to know when and how 
the owls lost confidence in his lordship man. 
With the next mail carrier, likely. Dear, beau- 
tiful owl picture. Mrs. Churchill says she con- 
siders this the most lovely incident of her forty 
years of traveling life. 

On a fifth of July Mrs. Churchill was going up 
one of those long hills in Leadville when accosted 
by two young boys, eight or nine years of age and 
so near of a size as to suggest a healthy pair of 
twins. Both were armed with toy pistols, carried 

53 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

behind, until Mrs. Churchill was confronted with 
the weapons presented in such a manner as would 
indicate special training. "Halt !''came in concert 
and one breath from both the youngsters. Again 
strong evidence of training, Mrs. Churchill halted, 
of course. This was the correct thing under the 
circumstances. She could not well hold up her 
hands without letting her papers fall. She 
thought it advisable to try the effect of logic on 
the highwaymen. Said she: ''Boys, if I Avere 
going to hold up and rob some one I would not 
take an old gray-haired woman. ''Be you an 
old gray-haired woman?" "Of course, I am," said 
she. "Do you not see my white hair?" "Yes," 
said he. "That is different," said the spokesman, 
each letting his hand with the pistol drop by 
his thigh. Mrs. Churchill continued her way, 
rejoicing that real Western highwaymen were so 
susceptible to feminine logic. 

A STORY OF LYDIA THOMPSON'S TIME. 

Mrs. Churchill has always sold her books and 
papers in all business places, regardless of conven- 
tional custom, because she knew that those cus- 
toms were made by a ruling class in the interests 
of that class, and not in the interests of women. 

54 



TRUE SHORT STORIES. 

On one occasion she was going into a saloon with 
a little book of her own writing, called ''Little 
Sheaves." The owner of the place met her pale 
and trembling. Said he : ''I suppose you have 
come to pray. ''Not unless you spell it 'prey,"' re- 
plied Mrs. Churchill. "I am only a harmless book 
vender selling my own books." Whereupon a re- 
action set in and the man bought several copies. 
Says Mrs. Churchill : "What made you think that 
I had come to pray with you, w^hen alone. The 
praying people go in bands." He answered: 
"You have a very pious complexion." 

THE BED SLIPPER. 

It was midnight on the day coach of a rail- 
road train. Everybody seemed to be tired out 
and sleepy. The people were reclining as is wont 
on such occasions. The train stopped at a sta- 
tion. Two big, well-dressed and well-groomed 
citizens of the U. S. A. came aboard, who were 
evidently neighbors when at home, but neither 
knew of the other's coming. They exchanged 
greetings, and without a thought of the existing 
•state of things, fell to discussing crops and finan- 
cial affairs in a loud tone, proving thereby that 
they had been sleeping several hours and were 

55 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

fresh and vigorous for what business awaited them. 
No heed was paid to sundry groans and sleepy 
grunts. Mrs. Churchill, never a vigorous person, 
was greatly disturbed and made up her mind that 
for the common defense, something must be done. 
She aroused, loaded with wrappings, pulled a lit- 
tle bed slipper from her hand baggage, shook it 
at the men as they were near the entrance, where 
a good view could be had of the nature of the 
weapon. Said she: "Gentlemen, do you see 
this?" They had been correctly addressed, for 
not another whisper was heard from that source 
during the rest of the night. A suppressed titter 
from some indiscreet one in the back of the car 
was the only visible demonstration. 

THE RESTING OXEN. 

In Houston, Texas, Mrs. Churchill was out 
attending to the sale of her book. It had 
rained the night before and the streets were 
in a bad condition for teamsters. There 
came along a big load of lumber, drawn 
by several yoke of oxen. Mrs. Churchill says 
she never saw as many teams succeeding one 
another as there were in this outfit. The driver 
was an intelligent looking negro with as fine a 

56 



TRUE SHORT STORIES. 

set of teeth as one will ever see in any man's 
head. One of the leaders of this long team had 
laid down, evidently completely tired out; the 
rest of the oxen began to follow the example of 
the leader. Houston was a pretty busy city to 
have a street obstructed in this way any length 
of time. But the driver sat grinning, evidently 
enjoying the situation as those people usually do. 
There was no slashing of the whip, no profanity 
to demonstrate hereditary piety; just waiting 
for something to turn up or for the oxen to get up 
when wanting a change of position. Mrs. Church- 
ill came and asked the teamster how far he had 
driven that long team through the muddy roads. 
He gave a polite answer and the conversation 
led to asking why he did not give his team more 
rest. Said he, with a very broad smile : "I think 
they is a restin'. Miss." 

RACE CHARACTERISTICS. 

Mrs. Churchill noticed that in addressing any of 
the brunette races she always received civil an- 
swers, which is not so liable to be the case with 
the white people. There is a strain of affability, 
politeness and geniality that the pale face with 
a more urgent climate has had less time to con- 

57 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

sider. A high type of a Southern gentleman can- 
not be surpassed on earth for fine traits, and 
their women make the best stepmothers and the 
best fostermothers that the world produces. Mrs. 
Churchiirs experience with those women verifies 
this statement. These things others have ob- 
served and commented upon. 

THE HARNESSED DOG. 

At a station in the Indian Territory a boy, 
ten or twelve years of age, had a big black, shaggy 
dog harnessed in a little four-wheeled wagon. 
The day was very warm. The dog's tongue was 
lolling and he had every appearance of having 
been worked long enough for once. Mrs. 
Churchill said: '^Brother have you not had 
the harness on the dog long enough for 
once? Take him home and let him rest, 
then you can harness him in the cool of the even- 
ing." The boy answered: ''Whose dog is this?" 
Mrs. Churchill knew the type and answered 
accordingly. Said she : ''Don't you know that I 
own all the dogs in the world and all the boys, 
too?" She further commanded him to take the 
harness off the dog and put it on himself and 
draw that wagon home. The fellow showed 

58 



TRUE SHORT STORIES. 

fright, as well as astonishment. To say the least, 
he thought here was a person dangerously erratic. 
He took that harness off in the greatest possible 
haste and placed it in the wagon; then in the 
shafts he started out as fast as he could go with 
the dog alongside, expressing his pleasure at re- 
lease from compulsory toil on such a warm day. 
The boy kept looking back to prove that he was 
getting out of danger until he was lost to sight in 
a body of heavy timber through which the road 
ran. Boys frequently do the best they know 
when in charge of animals, but lack judgment 
nearly equal to that of parents who are careless 
about trusting children too far with the control 
of animals. 

And now we say : "Man born of woman his 
davs are short and filled with crookedness." 



59 



CHAPTER VI. 

The Farce Trial. 

There is a town or city as may be in the United 
States that is situated geographically much as 
the Siamese Twins were physically. This town 
has two sets of hungry local officials belonging in 
two different states and having but one spine to 
separate them ; that is the state line. Those states 
are Texas and Arkansas. Hence, a compound 
name Texarkana. Mrs. Churchill once came to 
this place in the regular course of business, when 
the only way a woman could conduct a traveling 
business was by constantly having recourse to a 
retreating campaign. Rest on firearms at night 
and be ready for an unheralded victory or death 
any moment. Ever ready for flight, when positive 
battle was no longer preventible, Mrs. Churchill 
was selling her own book, entitled ^^Over the Pur- 
ple Hills'' in one wing of this compound city, an 
individual without warrant arrested her; it being 
in one of the Courthouse buildings, there was a 
fine opportunity for a farce trial. Mrs. Churchill 
had been informed by good authority that one 

60 



THE FARCE TRIAL. 

could sell their own production anywhere in the 
United States of America without paying license. 
The District Attorney bore upon his face the im- 
print of the state of Kentucky and Avas a very 
good-looking specimen of the blue grass Democ- 
racy. He with his comrades mourned that it was 
so long between drinks. Alas ! Their toes peeped 
through their shoes, were in local parlance of 
the alligator mouth pattern, because of the stitch- 
adhering where the leather had worn away. 
Their coats had been bleached by the suns of 
more than one summer and the storms of more 
than one winter. There were several parties of 
about the same ilk who were short on business, 
but long on time, not knowing where the next 
amusement was coming from. "A woman was in 
town getting money out of the community, selling 
her own book, where we have been getting ragged." 
^^Women have ever paid us tribute for appearing 
on earth at all, and why not call this one down?'' 
"It will give a little variety to our monotony and 
perhaps enough money to ^liquidate' the crowd." 
The plan was set in motion, the city officials from 
both sides of the state line making a great dis- 
play of books and documents. Mrs. Churchill had 
read of the Ragged Opera being played in Lon- 

61 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

don, England, where ^^Lady Locket lost her 
pocket." The original air of ^'Yankee Doodle.'^ 
This was a queer title to give an opera, making 
the poverty of a class the source of amusement 
for those more fortunately situated. This was 
a ragged court, a thirst}^ court, a villainous farce 
court, a counterpart of many another, where the 
entire court is hungry, thirsty, barefooted and 
sadly in need of refurnishings all around, conse- 
quently easily bought up. The court began pro- 
ceedings by a short accusation. Mrs. Churchill 
stood up and told them that she had written this 
book and had got it printed; that she was not 
obliged to pa}^ license for disposing of her own 
product. She also told the court of what they 
Avere composed in the human scale, all about their 
physical and mental condition, including their 
pecuniary state and their financial prospects in 
the immediate future. Mrs. Churchill had no 
respect for a court that evidently did not respect 
itself. It was getting late, already they had kept 
her two hours. There were as many as twenty- 
five or thirty persons present, all seeming to 
enjoy the back talk to the court. They threat- 
ened her with the jail. She threatened them with 
the British Consul, as she was born in a British 

62 



THE FARCE TRIAL. 

province. This had a surprising effect. Finally, 
hungry and tired, she offered them five dollars 
with which to treat the crowd if the court would 
adjourn long enough to get supper. The Blue 
Grass Democrat then told her that she was dis- 
missed, and further remarked: "That she had 
conducted herself like a lady." She answered: 
"I wish I could give you men the same compli- 
ment; that you had been conducting yourselves 
like gentlemen. Now if each of you men per- 
sonating an officer will buy a copy of my book 
and thus compensate me for the loss of time in 
being detained forcibly in this farce court I will 
call it square. Said the District Attorney : "We 
would do that and be glad to, but there is not 
five dollars in the crowd. You sized us up cor- 
rectly in every particular, only we are not so 
villainous as you think us, and we will prove it 
by declining the five you offered us as a bribe 
to adjourn court until you had your supper." 
When Mrs. Churchill reached her boarding house 
most of the people had eaten. "Dear me!" said 
Aunty D, why so late?" An explanation of the 
affair was given, including the jail threat and the 
international treaty threat. Aunt}^ was once a 
practical slave holder and knew how to treat any 

63 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

subject with the vigor it merited, besides being a 
powerful woman physically, about six feet in 
height. Said she: ^^Those rascally fellows said 
they would put you in jail, did they? That is a 
pretty way to talk to a white lady. If they had I 
would have torn that jail down as soon as I heard 
of it." Here was a case of woman's right, the 
spirit of which should permeate every civilized 
country on earth. Defend your own when 
wronged I Mrs. Churchill heard a man say next 
day that the men generally stood in awe of 
"Aunty D," as she was able to take her own 
part physically and had a code of her own, not 
made by man, in the interest of men. Since 
Mrs. Churchill heard of the death of this woman 
she says she feels as if a friend worth having 
had left the earth, while it is yet unfinished. 



64 




CAROLINE NICHOLS CHURCHILL 

At Seventy-Six Years. 



CHAPTEE VII. 



The Grass Valley Boarding House. 

The boarding house mistress was a large, stout 
Welsh woman of ideas and a goodly share of ex- 
ecutive ability. Her husband was a Norman 

Englishman. Mr. L was of rather slender 

figure, fair, fine, rosy skin, black eyes and black 
hair, curly in ringlets, which his indulgent wife 
kept about his neck for over thirty years. This, 
too, in democratic U. S. A., where public opinion 
is both parliament and king. This man and wife, 
like the Heavenly Twins, contradicted the gen- 
eral idea in regard to the appearance of man and 
wife. They filled the appearance of Jack Sprat 
and his wife. Jack Sprat could eat no fat, his 
wife could eat no lean; so between them both 
they cleared the cloth and left the platter clean. 
These people had a handsome residence situated 
upon a hill which overlooked a good part of the 
town of Grass Valley. Mrs. Churchill was sell- 
ing her own book, a little work called "Little 
Sheaves," and making her sojourn with a family 
from a Southern State, fine, elderly people. The 

66 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

L.'s had heard of Mrs. Churchill as a promisiDg 
young woman of studious habits, aggressive in 
reform ideas ; in fact, a woman inclined to stout 
shoes and short hair, besides having a fad for 
sawing off three sticks of wood before breakfast. 
A woman who seemed unconsciously to violate 
conventional customs with a reckless disregard 
of consequences. A person combining so much 
that was considered eccentric by the '^Pin Heads" 
of society, the L.'s were anxious to see, so invited 
her to a Sunday dinner when the outlay was 
unusually elaborate. Mrs. Churchill accepted 
and found a guest who had taken Sunday dinner 
with this family for seven years. Certainly a 
nice custom where people are sufficiently settled 
in their ways of living to receive their friends 
with such regularity. The guest was a retired 
sea captain, a pretty fair story teller, and as his 
stories were short and true, they never lacked 
interest. Mrs. Churchill sometimes gets so in- 
terested in the upper thought that she loses her 
bearing — is a poor navigator. Some one smiles 
and says, "We saw you go by ; thought as it was 
dinner hour, you would come in.'' Captain says, 
"Tell them that a pig is the best known navi- 
gator." 

66 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

When a captain at sea loses his bearings he 
puts a pig overboard, if he has one on board, and 
the commercial craft usually have. The pig will 
swim around the vessel until he finds that he 
cannot get aboard; will then strike out for the 
shore, and any craft is safe to followin the direc- 
tion indicated by the pig. But what of the i)oor 
beast? A boat is lowered and he is brought 
aboard before a shark gets him, if possible. 

Mrs. Churchill found the L.'s good substantial 
people, who were more than the average appre- 
ciative of the gifts of others. They had no chil- 
dren, and had educated themselves in modern 
languages, mathematics and bookkeeping after 
they were married. Mrs. L. remarked to Mrs. 
Churchill that the interior hotels of California 
were not the best places in the world to regain 
lost flesh and retain it. Mrs. Churchill was in 
miserable health, had a bad cough and did not 
think herself of getting through another spring 
time. The L.'s said, "Stay with us, we can feed 
you up and make you well ; we have seen people 
before who had been starved to ill health when 
doing a traveling business in the interior of this 
State." Spanish beef from wild cattle makes 
very cheap but wretchedly poor meat. Then suc- 

67 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

cession potatoes, grown year after year without 
cultivation, makes a very coarse tuber, depositing 
little starch or sugar, but running to fibrous tis- 
sue until the American nation would hardly 
recognize the root of their national greatness 
without a verbal introduction. The side dish 
was green beans, canned before the railroad 
reached the country, and kept because there was 
no local market and of course no shipping, other- 
wise they would have been obliged to go around 
the Horn or across the plains; thus one can 
plainly see that those beans were tough. The 
French bread and butter were always good, or 
starvation outright would have been inevitable. 
The coffee and tea were wretched; in fact, nothing 
but the bills were first class. This was thirty 
years ago or it would not be related here; out of 
pure national pride the story would be sup- 
pressed. That class of landlords have all gone 
to give an account of their stewardship for the 
deeds done in the body — things are very different 
now in that country. This narrative is given 
more in sorrow than in anger, remembering that 
those people on the interior felt so keenly their 
isolation from their former homes that they were 
ready to sacrifice any other human creature in 

68 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

the interest of covetousness. The appearance of 
the railroad has changed this petty rascality, 
from which there was no appeal, to a more re- 
spectable order on a larger scale from which 
there is also no appeal (it is generally thought 
short of), well, revolution, or selling our 
eggs by weight instead of count. Mrs. L. con- 
tinued, ^The people of the U. S. A. are poor 
dietists, many of them starve to death from 
poor cooking, or not knowing how to eat with 
best results after cooking is well done." Mrs. 
Churchill said, "Those elderly people I am stop- 
ping with are so kind and good I do not like to 
make a change; I do all their family writing; 
neither of them write, although both read, and 
are people of more than ordinary intelligence and 
information. Whatever our unbelief, it does 
seem at times that a destiny shapes our ends." 
It began to rain with the inconsistency of dry 
climates and gave almost a steady downpour 
for a whole week. Mrs. Churchill was very sen- 
sitive to dampness, so consented to have some 
flannel garments sent for, which in time resulted 
in having her entire effects removed to the L. 
residence for the rest of the winter, with the 
promise that she would see the elderly friends 

69 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

every Sunday and do their family writing for 
them. While Mrs. Churchill was with the dear 
old folks she became convinced that more exer- 
cise with the arms would be an advantage to her 
lungs and stimulate more active breathing. The 
elderly gentleman taught her how to handle a 
bucksaw and a stick of stove wood. This exer- 
cise was found to be highly beneficial, and was 
one of the objections Mrs. Churchill had to 
change of residence for the winter. The L.'s had 
all their winter wood done up in fine order, 
kindling and everything necessary for a rainy 
day. It has been said by some presumptuous per- 
son that the degree of one's civilization can be 
determined by the way the household fuel is man- 
aged. The savage of any color or country leaves 
the kindling for his wife to provide and the fires 
for her to build. The barbarian, when urged, 
helps provide the wood, but leaves the prepara- 
tion thereof entirely to chance. The half civil- 
ized man never provides kindling until the morn- 
ing's necessities call him to duties he can not 
evade; he then goes forth finding no previous 
preparation; with an injured air, attacks any 
available thing that will answer to start a fire, 
if it should be a defect in his neighbor's hen house 

70 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

or a loose joint in the line fence. The civilized 
man looks upon the necessity of fuel for his fam- 
ily as being an imperative necessity, as much as 
flour, meat and sugar. If he burns wood, his 
wood pile is a model, with ever ready kindling 
to match. This was the case with the L.'s. Mrs. 
Churchill thought there was no hope for her 
favorite exercise. This, however, had been talked 
over by the contracting parties. Mr. L. had 
promised "the dear old ]3eople" that a new wood- 
pile should be created out of whole tree limbs, 
and the bucksaw put in prime condition, so 
that Mrs. Churchill should lose nothing by the 
change of boarding houses, but gain the flesh 
nature intended she should wear. All this was 
done and much more ; soon as the rains had suffi- 
ciently abated the wood sawing went on as usual; 
first a few sticks answered for a hearty breathing 
spell, then came the call to breakfast, two table- 
spoonsful of native grape juice, a small cup of 
coffee, a poached egg and a couple of slices of dry 
toast. The dinner came not until four o'clock; 
the details are given here because of the results 
that some other person needing to be rescued 
from perishing in a similar manner might be re- 
stored to health by adopting similar methods. In 

71 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

seven months she left the L/s weighing a hundred 
and fifty-five pounds, the heaviest she had ever 
weighed in her life, her weight usually being 
about one hundred and twenty-five pounds. She 
weighed but a hundred and fifteen when she first 
went to the L/s. At first the time from break- 
fast to dinner seemed unbearable; the hostess 
was inexorable, however, had seen similar cases. 
Mrs. Churchill provided her money for the rainy 
season during the summer months, so that her 
winter work might be limited to dry conditions. 
Thus a pretty good fast could be endured until 
one became accustomed to the change without 
danger of collapse. Mrs. Churchill asked for 
just one cracker to silence the demands of former 
habit; the request was not granted, the hostess 
remarking that she, the patient, had come to her 
to be cured and must submit to discipline if she 
expected results. Keading and writing were al- 
most entirely prohibited. Dear me ! to sit on the 
front porch under the vines watching the linnets 
flitting back and forth wondering what they 
could possibly find to keep them so unremittingly 
busy — there seemed to be hundreds of them in 
those vines. This variety of the linnet is very 
little larger than a big strawberry, and a tiny 

72 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

white feather on its red breast makes it look 
like an over-ripe strawberry. The week day 
dinner came at last, and with it a good appetite. 
There were the best of potatoes, the French leek, 
one of the onion family cooked as greens, roast 
beef, and plain boiled suet pudding served with 
a well made sauce. This suet pudding is said 
by some to be the real source of English physical 
greatness — boiling takes starch out of the flour 
leaving more valuable qualities. It is a pity that 
the suet pudding is not revived by the housewives 
of the U. S. A. The Sunday dinner was the 
main feature of these seven months of life's his- 
tory. United States fashion, it might be called 
an "institution.'' Mrs. L. had made eight Eng- 
lish plum puddings late in the fall, each about 
the size of a human head. They were all cooked 
at once in a large wash boiler, bought and kept 
on purpose for extraordinary occasions. Each 
was covered with tight linen bagging and boiled 
for four hours without ceasing for one moment. 
These puddings were made a little plainer than 
the original recipe. One was given to a friend, 
the others were put in a cool place for winter use. 
Mrs. L. evidently understood her business, get- 
ting people well from illness caused by hotel or 

73 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

boarding house living. These plum puddings 
were only served for the Sunday dinner, and that 
as dessert after a good meal of chicken or game, 
with choice vegetables. The pudding was sliced, 
placed in a steamer and heated until ready to be 
served ; a rich sauce was used, and Mrs. Churchill 
used to beg to be excused from dessert after the 
first part of the service. Mrs. L. had a rejoinder : 
"Did anything ever hurt you that you have eaten 
in this house?" Mrs. Churchill was obliged to 
acknowledge that it never had. This woman was 
an artist as well as a cook, she should have had 
charge of a sanitarium to have done her best 
work for humanity. 

Mrs. Churchill soon learned that it was best 
to let the good hostess have her way; her rapid 
improvement gave her perfect assurance in this 
woman's methods. There was a greenhouse at 
one end of the dining room, this was closed on 
Friday morning as regularly as one would wind 
an eight-day clock. It was closed with lock and 
key ; no one was permitted to open the door upon 
any pretext, not even to secure a choice bouquet 
for a funeral, the perfume was being husbanded 
for the Sunday dinner, then the door was only 
opened just at the time the guests were sitting 

74 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

down to dinner. Two beautiful tortoise shell 
cats, the three-colored feline of the females, were 
called and told to get up into a little slit window 
near the dining table ; the time of day gave bright 
sun on the cats and made a very pretty picture. 
A part of this performance that was most sur- 
prising was the readiness with which the felines 
responded to the request, as cats have so little 
imagination that they are usually very stupid 
about comprehending requests. These cats knew 
all about rewards and punishments of a local 
character, for never once during Mrs. Churchill's 
stay were one or either known to desert her post, 
but sat out the dinner looking at one another 
and at the guests with the peculiar genial expres- 
sion of puss when she is contented and sure of 
her position. There was another greenhouse on 
this very interesting place; the house being built 
upon a hillside made several steps necessary for 
entrance; these steps ran out well towards the 
end of a porch making room under the steps for 
a greenhouse; by putting glass in frames, with 
a little door mostly glass, it was made a very 
attractive place — it was filled with the largest 
variety of pansies one will often see. 

75 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

On the wall of Mrs. L.'s residence hung a 
life-size bust picture of the Duchess of Landsfelt, 
popularly known as "Loly Montez/' who was 
born in Ireland in 1824 and died in New York 
in 1861. This woman was a celebrated character 
in the early '50s. She was of Moorish and Irish 
descent, a great beauty, and withal highly intel- 
lectual. An old Bavarian king bestowed the title 
of duchess upon her, as it saved the troubles 
arising from a morganatic marriage. "Loly" 
came to California for the purpose of regaining 
or making a fortune, was swindled out of the 
money she had invested, returned to New York, 
and died in despair in consequence. She was 
buried in Greenwood cemetery. The marker for 
her grave bears the simple inscription, "Malinda 
Gilbert." Her autobiography was in Mrs. L.'s 
collection of books and was highly appreciated 
by Mrs. Churchill. ''Loly'' was a firm anti- 
Catholic, and gives some strong facts about the 
workings of that wretched system through Eu- 
rope. The ignorance of the great mass of the 
people, consequent lack of preparation to live, 
crime, beggary and want follow in its wake 
everywhere. The Duchess of Landsfelt was con- 
temporaneous with Jenny Lind, the great vocal- 

76 



THE GRASS VALLEY BOARDING HOUSE. 

ist. Thirty years ago the Grass Valley people 
could tell amusing stories about "Loly's" pet 
bear and her wonderful horsemanship. Her 
horse could clear any of the gates in this little 
city, with its rider upon its back. The encyclo- 
pedia speaks of the duchess as an adventuress. 
Queer way men have of putting things. I would 
like to know why the poor Irish emigrant girl, 
who comes to this country as a domestic servant, 
is not also designated an adventuress. The mas- 
ter class seldom lose a chance to insult a woman 
who has the ability for something besides service 
to his lordship. When women get to be taller 
in stature than men (which is rapidly coming 
to pass) — when they write, compile and publish 
encyclopedias — supposing they set down every 
man of superior ability and aspiration as an ad- 
venturer, a pirate, a thief, a falsifier. How 
would it sound? Woman will never do that, 
however tall she grows, because she knows he is 
hers by discovery. Instead of envying him his 
ability, she is proud of him. 



77 



CHAPTER VIII. 



Starting a Paper. 

In 1876 Mrs. Churchill went East for the 
purpose of getting out her little book, entitled 
^^Over the Purple Hills." This work was de- 
scriptive of California. It was Centennial year, 
and it was difficult to get publishers interested 
in a new book maker, especially one whose repu- 
tation as a novice was centered entirely in the 
"Wild and Fleecy West." Mrs. Churchill had her 
book printed in Chicago, and reviewed by the 
"Tribune," the "Times" and "Post." Two of these 
publications mentioned the book as being a 
sprightly written little work, with some descrip- 
tion surpassing any previous production on those 
points, "The Yosemite Valley, Lake Tahoe and 
Monte Diablo." With this she visited Texas, 
where she traveled for two years, making a gen- 
erous sale of her work. Missouri, Kansas and 
Indian Territory assisted in filling the time until 
1879. Mrs. Churchill, desiring to make 'a perma- 
nent home for herself, was returning to California, 
when she visited Denver, Colorado. She had no 

78 



STARTING A PAPER. 

idea of remaining in Denver, but found in the 
course of a few weeks that she had never been 
in a climate where she could accomplish the work 
she could perform in Colorado. A high altitude, 
inland from large bodies of water, whether salt or 
fresh, was the physical condition needed for Mrs. 
Churchill's health. The pioneer settlers of Colo- 
rado well know that for industrial effort, or rather 
endeavor, this woman could never be surpassed. 
For physical strength she might have been out- 
done, but never in plucky effort to overcome al- 
most insurmountable obstacles and dififlculties. 
Where one can do the most work is where one has 
the best health. She concluded that Denver was 
the point from which to radiate in attending to 
her business. Here was where she would buy 
some lots and try to make a permanent home. 
One may have a good traveling business, but if 
they do not tie up somewhere, and get something 
together, after the lapse of many years of work 
they will have little to show for the effort. 

Expenses will take everything unless in the 
case of men with good salaries who have the thrift 
to invest, and in that way accumulate until ready 
to leave the road. Mrs. Churchill had for years 
contemplated publishing a paper. The fact that 

79 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

men hold in supreme selfishness all the great ave- 
nues of influence, the pulpit and the press, with 
the learned professions, rankled in her mind until 
to get even with the arch enemy of the race be- 
came the prime object of existence. Men of sense 
have generally admired her earnest endeavor, and 
have shown a disposition to give her assistance, 
frequently saying it were better for humanity if 
women would generally spend more time upon 
the condition of public affairs and less upon 
dress, frivolity and household display. Chaucer, 
Kuskin, John Stuart Mill and May, with many 
other distinguished individuals of both sexes, have 
delivered the same opinions. The beauty of Mrs. 
Churchill's great work is that she never sought 
preferment for herself. Self-aggrandizement never 
formed any part of her policy. To do the work for 
which so few women are fitted by nature or ex- 
perience was the height of her ambition. Her 
support financially must come from her endeav- 
ors, whatever they might be. Susan B. Anthony 
was liberally endowed for the work she did in 
behalf of her sex. Lucy Stone also received half 
the sum, sixty thousand dollars. Those women 
did noble work in the East, but did not accom- 
plish the political emancipation of a single State. 

80 



STARTING A PAPER. 

Mrs. Churchill has performed a wonderful work 
undermost difficult circumstances. It is not at all 
likely that another woman on the continent could 
under the same conditions accomplish as much. 
The simple, earnest plaint of the colored people 
carried an echo of woman's condition more or less 
pathetic. Those people say why do the ex-slave 
holders hate us? Did we not help to make their 
wealth? Did we not as servants give them a 
chance to educate their children and bestow upon 
them the best of opportunities? Why should they 
now hate us that we are trying to do something 
for ourselves? If we are ignorant and coarse, 
what have those people who make fun of us done 
to make us otherwise? 

There is a note in this simple statement that 
strikes to the quick when woman is belittled by 
the press published in the interests of men ex- 
clusively. She has been man's slave. He has 
been educated at her expense. If he bought the 
ice cream, she was expected to pay for all his 
luxuries in reduced wages. She has done the 
drudgery and borne the insults of those who 
wronged her, assuming to be her protector. As 
woman becomes educated and influential this 
state of things to some extent disappears. The 

81 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

foregoing causes was the incentive for establish- 
ing the little monthly paper called "The Antelope." 
Mrs. Churchill is a dear lover of animals, and 
knowing an order called after the Elk, not a deli- 
cately handsome beasty, thought Antelope rather 
better than Ursula, Bovine, Equine, Leoline, Fe- 
line, Canine or Porcine, she concluded Antelope 
would do. The paper was a monthly and very well 
edited. The facilities for getting out a paper in 
Denver thirty years ago were very poor, as the pub- 
lishers had only the material for getting out their 
own productions. At length a firm of lithograph- 
ers consented to get out the first edition. It was 
produced June, 1879. Mrs. Churchill called for 
the edition next day. A conceited little printer 
was to be at the ofi&ce Sunday morning to de- 
liver the edition to Mrs. Churchill herself, as 
it must be sold immediately. The printer 
took especial pains to let her know that he 
was a married man, so that there should be 
no serious misunderstanding. Mrs. Churchill 
was then in her forty-seventh year, and fool 
proof as well as man proof. She, however, 
thought the frankness of this stupid piece of hu- 
manity was a great novelty to say the least, as 
most Western men were always bachelors when- 

82 



STARTING A PAPER. 

ever a new woman appeared upon the scene. The 
edition of a thousand copies was all sold by twelve 
o'clock, at ten cents a copy, and the demand 
remained brisk after the last copy was sold. The 
type not being distributed, another edition was 
struck off, but not so hastily disposed of, as the 
first had been read at the rate of about ten per- 
sons to the copy. The lithographers can vouch 
for Mrs. Churchill's promptness in meeting all 
financial obligations as well as getting out her 
paper on time. 

The little paper soon had a very fair subscrip- 
tion list, and some advertising. The expense of 
the paper was very high; the cost of living and 
rents was much in advance of what they were in 
more Eastern cities. In 1879 Denver had a popu- 
lation of about thirty thousand. Most of the pop- 
ulation had not come to stay, so longed to get 
back to what they called God's country. This 
may have been a peculiar phase of pious slang, but 
people all through the ages have been taught that 
their own God was a very partial individual, be- 
stowing blessings for the believers' special benefit. 
The common ear was, and always has been, deaf 
and blind to the smacking of commercialism in 
his Gods requiring belief. Faith is a part of 

83 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

nature's requirement in the success of anything 
undertaken in life, whether good, bad or indiffer- 
ent. People had no faith in the future of the 
city of the plains. It was supposed to be just 
a good atmosphere for weak lungs, and in some 
cases a good place to come in order to escape the 
mother-in-law, or any phantom from which the 
wicked flee. The population was very transient, 
and withal very democratic, in the dictionary 
sense of the term. "The New Eich of the West" 
found that they really needed a residence city in 
a climate and among people where they had la- 
bored the early part of their lives to acquire their 
fortunes. They wanted the social freedom to 
wear a cowboy's hat without giving mortal of- 
fense, and the Eastern nabob occasionally wanted 
to go a-fishing accompanied by his housemaid, 
and there was no reason that he should fear being 
mobbed in the quiet city of the plains. And Colo- 
rado is certainly the place to fish and hunt and 
have a good time for an outing, as there is so much 
sunshine and clear weather — nothing to interfere. 
In the early days of Denver's history the people 
were very sociable. Mrs. Churchill says many 
times she was obliged to leave the city for outside 
towns in order to raise money to pay her bills, be- 

84 



STARTING A PAPER. 

cause of being interrupted so frequently on the 
street for a social chat; women especially seem 
to have very little idea of the importance of busi- 
ness time. It is queer to contemplate how many 
people there are in any community who labor un- 
der the hallucination that if one is engaged in any 
occupation different from their own, that they 
are just having a good time, with no possible 
hardships to encounter. Especially does this idea 
prevail in regard to people who have a traveling 
business, by those who have only taken travel in 
pleasantly small doses for visitng or entertaining. 
In publishing the monthly paper there were 
men entirely incredulous as to a paper succeeding 
published by a woman. There were those who 
would buy and read the paper and steadily op- 
pose its publication. There was one man who said 
to Mrs. Churchill that if she would get out the 
second edition he would subscribe for the paper. 
When asked to make his word good, he declined, 
but suffered the disappointment of his wishes for 
three years and then went off and died. He was 
not permitted to live until the weekly paper 
called the "Queen Bee" was established. There 
were so many protests coming from the East 
against the name Antelope that when it was 

85 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

changed to a weekly it was thought best to change 
the name. "Queen Bee" became the popular name 
for Mrs. Churchill, many persons knowing her only 
as by the name of her paper, not knowing her real 
name. The greatest grievance the editor has to 
complain of is the habit of the mass of the people 
to confuse her publication with the Omaha paper 
called "The Omaha Bee." The Omaha paper is 
one of Nebraska's leading dailies, a Democratic 
paper opposed to every sentiment promulgated by 
the Denver "Queen Bee," or rather the Colorado 
paper of that name. The owner of this paper 
seems to have been born with the ability to trans- 
act business with men, and with a class of men 
worth calling upon. Women were not, generally 
speaking, so easily reached, and were not as liable 
to be provided with ready cash, and many had 
prejudices which were not worth the time to com- 
bat. It would seem that men in Denver in ye old 
time were afflicted with woman on the brain. Men 
have always been afflicted this way more or less, 
according to the scarcity of woman. It is strong 
evidence that she is of much more importance in 
man's economy than most men are willing to ad- 
mit. In communities where women are in the 
ascendency men are fondled and favored in every 

86 



STARTING A PAPER. 

way. All his faults are covered with the mantle 
of charity, methods right contrary to those prac- 
ticed on the woman. This is in accord with nat- 
ural law. An elderly woman who kept a candy 
store heard so many silly remarks about the ed- 
itor of the woman's paper, she ventured to ask 
the cause. The answer was characteristic ! More 
men in the country than women. This is the 
only reason known, continued she, unless it may 
be that I am considered more worthy of attention 
than some others. In the course of six months 
from the first appearance of the paper Mrs. 
Churchill thought it best to get an office of her 
own and keep her own help. A batch of good sec- 
ond-hand type was found, and a printer out of a 
job, with great effort and many promises, kept 
sober long enough to get the thing in shape. In 
1881 the Chinese riot occurred in Denver. The 
foreign laborer, without cause or provocation, at- 
tacked those people and tried to annihilate them. 
Mrs. Churchill was out on a subscription trip 
when this took place. The Chinaman's greatest 
crime seems to be his superior industry, sobriety 
and living within his income. The same objection 
is frequently mooted in the case of woman. A dis- 
tinguished Norwegian editor once said the only 

87 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

objection he had to a certain female relative was 
that she never "gave cause for fault finding." 
There is a world of human nature expressed in 
that simple sounding sentence. Keally, too much 
perfection of character has a reflex action on the 
fellow who thinks he cannot get anything out 
of life worth while without playing some forbid- 
den game. Mrs. ChurchilFs employes made them- 
selves useful in caring for the wounded China- 
men, one of whom died upon the floor where her 
office was located. Mrs. Churchill was obliged 
to keep her office and home together, partly from 
the necessity of being away in the interests of 
her publication, and because the business was not 
sufficiently remunerative to keep up another 
establishment. The position was an easy one for 
the printer; he could take his own time and be 
really his own boss. There were always enough 
meddlesome people to make disparaging remarks 
about being employed and bossed by a woman. 

Mrs. Churchill says if "help" need bossing they 
are not worth having around. She would never 
keep people for work who had to be called in the 
morning. If one cannot take sufficient interest in 
what one is paid to do, to get up in the morning, 
they had better be sent home to mother, who has 

88 



STARTING A PAPER. 

SO sadly neglected their education. A high-priced 
man was never employed, as there was not work 
enough to keep one busy, as there was no job 
work. At first a young printer was secured who 
with another aspirant had been trying to make a 
living by printing cards and doing odd jobs. The 
time came when they could not pay their rent 
and had nothing to eat. One of the young men 
appealed to his home folks and secured money 
enough to take him to his friends ; the other had 
no such recourse, so applied to a kind-hearted 
old gentleman whose popular title was "Colonel 
Sellers," one of the kind who substituted hope for 
every real want that came to hand. The job was 
secured for the young fellow, who proved to be 
excellent help. The young man was a Hebrew 
and been well brought up. He had left home de- 
termined to make his own way without calling 
on his people. He proved to be respectful, trust- 
worthy, polite and sober, very important quali- 
ties in an employe. When he came to the office 
he was without means, or clothing suitable for 
cold weather. As this became known, efforts 
were made to fit out the printer with little regard 
to waiting for wages to accrue. In the early days 
of mining camps there is always reckless prodi- 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

gality as to material things. Denver was no ex- 
ception to this rule. Mrs. Churchill noticed when 
E's washing was sent in that there were no 
drawers. In going out to business she saw some- 
thing floating from a boarding house window, 
which she turned over with her umbrella stick 
and found to be a new pair of drawers, which 
had been discarded because too small for the 
original owner. These were taken to the needy 
and received with a thankful heart. Everybody 
who knows anything about a mining camp or the 
new distributing centers thereof knows how men 
make things fly when away from their natural 
guardians, wife, mother, sisters, cousins and 
aunts. 

Good clothing could be picked up in sufficient 
quantity to have clothed a small army if there 
were no demand for uniforms. Unless the coun- 
try is in the toils of a panic, Denver is always 
crowded. One night Mrs. Churchill returned 
from a month's trip outside in the interests of 
her publication, and made her presence known 
at the fastened door. The printer appeared car- 
rying a lighted lamp, apparently greatly embar- 
rassed; with apologies in bashful confusion, the 
young man stammered: "These boys had no 

90 



STARTING A PAPER. 

place to sleep, so I let them lie down here, not 
expecting you home." The editor took in the sit- 
nation good-naturedly, saying, "Do not distrnb 
yourself; as the boys are here, let them rest," at 
the same time stepping over the prostrate forms 
of from four to six youngsters, each of whom was 
trying to get a foothold in the West. Mrs. 
Churchill reached her own apartment, and the 
incident was soon forgotten in a sound sleep. 
When morning came the coast was cleared, not a , 
boy in sight; "they had folded their tents, like 
the Arab, and silently stole away." The question 
was asked, where will they get breakfast? They 
will scatter to different boarding houses and 
make their wants known. No woman ever for- 
gets that she is the mother of the race. The sub- 
stantial, sensible, practicable women should be 
asked into every important council held by man 
in the interests of the common good. 

Boys need not go hungry in the West who can 
wash dishes. Good, reliable help is always in 
demand. Brisben Walker, a brainy little man 
with a big head, was publishing a paper called 
the "Inter Ocean" on the same floor of the building 
where Mrs. Churchiirs paper was gotten out. Mr. 
Walker reminded Mrs. Churchill of Henry George^ 

91 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the philanthropist, whom Mrs. Churchill knew 
when he was editor of the San Francisco Post. 
Mr. George used to have a comic valentine in his 
office which resembled him more than any picture 
she ever saw of that distinguished individual. 
This picture had a Brodigan head, with a small 
body; it may have been a real picture of Mr. 
George, The editorial quill was stuck over his 
ear. It is to be hoped that the picture has been 
preserved. 



92 



CHAPTER IX. 



Reminiscences. 

One learns by hard experience that a new, 
sparsely inhabited country is a poor place to 
establish a paper, unless it should be a daily with 
stock company. Those who had leisure for read- 
ing bought their home papers from the East. A 
great, stalwart fellow stood upon the corner of 
Sixteenth and Lawrence calling out the names 
of the papers in a stentorian voice, "New York, 
Chicago, St. Louis and Cincinnati papers." In 
time the stalwart form and stentorian voice dis- 
appeared from the street. It was reported that 
he had bought a farm. Mr. Walker also disap- 
peared from the block; it was reported that he 
had bought lands and had introduced alfalfa 
into the state of Colorado. The real early pio- 
neer seems to be sadly lacking in the desirable 
quality known as faith. He needs some one to 
go ahead and prove by practical demonstration 
that things can be made to grow in one country 
as well as another. The early Californians did 
not believe that wheat could be grown in that 

93 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

country. The State is now one of the leading 
wheat growers of the United States. It had to 
be demonstrated by some one with faith and 
sufficient interest to make a success of the ex- 
periment. 

THE GIFTED WIDOW. 

Mrs. Churchill had her office and home rooms 
from a young widow who sublet the apartments 
from an old ignoramus who owned the building. 
The widow came to Mrs. Churchill's apartment 
with the complaint that the villainous old land- 
lord was pursuing her with much persecution. 
The widow was frightened and in such a frame 
of mind that her complexion had a green appear- 
ance. The woman was a fine looking brunette. 
Mrs. Churchill is a person not looking for 
trouble, but when occasion requires it she can 
come to the rescue, take up the cross and bear 
off the victor's crown to the glory of the indi- 
vidual needing assistance. Mrs. Churchill said, 
"When he abuses you again call me; I will come 
to the rescue." 

She came again with the same changed com- 
plexion and frightened look upon her face. Mrs. 
Churchill arose in anticipation and went to the 
door, where she met the heavy villain of this per- 

94 



REMINISCENCES. 

formance. Said Mrs. Churchill, "You can not 
cross my threshold. '^ His answer was a most 
surprising revelation, proving his ignorance too 
dense for responsibility. The way to treat this 
case would be in the line of brute force. A 
vigorous bluff would answer. Said he, "I want 
all my women in this building to associate." 
There were several waiter girls rooming on the 
same floor so as to be near their places of em- 
ployment. The old fellow thought because he 
owned the building there was no limit to his 
possessions. Said Mrs. Churchill, "You get down 
those stairs as soon as possible or you will be 
helped most violently.'' He went down the 
stairs as if he knew it was not safe for him to 
longer tarry. He was very hard of hearing, and 
the conversation could be heard by the waiter 
girls then in the building. There was applause 
in the way of approval as to the manner of dis- 
posing of such a complex case. As might be ex- 
pected, the persecution took a different phase, 
but continued until other plans were formed for 
the widow — plans proving once again the old 
story of good coming out of seeming evil. The 
widow was found to be a woman of rare abilities, 
but with very limited education. She had nat- 

95 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ural talents for doctoring and nursing. Mrs. 
Churchill inspired her with the belief that she 
could educate herself by opportunity and appli- 
cation — prepare herself for a position worthy 
of her gifts. The courage prevailed, although 
there was a child five years old to be provided 
for. There was a boys' boarding school kept in 
Denver at that time ; Mrs. Churchill, in behalf of 
the widow, called upon the proprietor and made 
arrangements for the widow to bring her child 
and assist about the boarding house and take 
private lessons of their best teachers, some of 
whom were women. In a few weeks the proprie- 
tor told Mrs. Churchill that this woman was one 
of the most promising young persons he had ever 
met; her native abilities seemed prepared soil 
for education which had been withheld until 
judgment was mature enough to readily grasp 
every opportunity. Some kind people offered 
to take the child to their home and care for him 
that she might be relieved of this much, that 
would give her more time to study. The child, 
young as he was, had the reputation of being re- 
markable for lovely traits of character, and the 
people seemed to think he was more of a com- 
fort in the household than a trouble. "I told you 

96 



REMINISCENCES. 

SO," said Mrs. Churchill, "soon as one shows a 
disposition to help develop character, along the 
lines sensible people know to be what you are 
naturally fitted for, help will come from very 
unexpected quarters. In due time other oppor- 
tunities presented themselves. Before her ac- 
quaintances could realize it she had taken a 
course of medical lectures in Denver. Boston 
friends hearing of her struggles, and of her suc- 
cess, wrote for her to come to the aristocratic 
old metropolis and she should have help to finish 
her course. One day a leading judge of Denver 
hailed Mrs. Churchill to give a piece of informa- 
tion that he knew would please her greatly. A 
wealthy old couple were going to travel on a 
long journey. They wanted to take with them 
a doctor and nurse in one person. The widow 
was recommended. A recommendation from Den- 
ver was called for. The judge was the man for this 
occasion, as the widow had taken care of a mem- 
ber of his family when in need of the best to be 
had. The judge spared no pains in his letter 
of recommendation. Here again was this law 
of the secret of success demonstrated. The widow 
took the position at a good salary, and had the 
double blessing of having her young son with her. 

97 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 
THE HEBREW PRINTER. 

There came a time when Mrs. Churchill was to 
lose the most reliable help she had yet been able 
to obtain. The Evil One is said to go prowling 
about seeking whom he may devour. This is a 
demonstrated fact if it does take on the dress of 
superstition. Fact can often be made under- 
standable in the dress of allegory that could not 
be made as apparent any other way. Mrs. 
Churchill when taking subscribers in Leadville 
came across a woman who subscribed for her 
paper. She chanced to be one of those individ- 
uals who think a woman under everlasting ob- 
ligations to be permitted an existence under any 
circumstances whatever. She for some cause 
came to Denver and to the Antelope office. She 
represented to the printer that she was a great 
personal friend of Mrs. Churchill's and had come 
to take up her abode with her for a time. The 
printer told her that he had no authority for 
taking any one in during the editor's absence. He 
wrote to Mrs. Churchill, but the letter was never 
received nor never returned. There were more evil 
spirits than one in this plot. The young printer 
who had served so faithfully got a job of an ac- 
quaintance to attend some cattle. After awaiting 

98 



REMINISCENCES. 

a reasonable length of time for an answer and 
none forthcoming, he locked the office, leaving the 
key with a tenant in the block, with instruction 
that it was not to be given to other parties than 
the editor upon her return. One day the kindly 
old gentleman who found this job for the boy 
came to see how he was getting along. Himself 
a curbstone broker, knew how life went when 
doing business without capital. He, Colonel Sel- 
lers, found the door locked and a great accumula- 
tion of mail. Upon inquiring of some of the 
tenants, he found out the true state of things, and 
surmised that Mrs. Churchill had not received 
the letter, or she would have been home to get out 
the paper on time, as she was one of the painfully 
punctual kind of people. The Colonel obtained 
the address as near as possible, took chances 
and wrote. This letter was received, and Mrs. 
Churchill came as soon as the train could bring 
her. Floating help was obtained and the paper 
appeared on time as usual. 

About this time there appeared a woman upon 
the scene who was a member of the Editors' Press 
Association. She invited Mrs. Churchill to join; 
the response was, "No objection." Now this was 
the country editors' opportunity to humiliate the 

;,:' ' 99 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

woman who could come to their respective towns 
and get a list of subscribers for her own paper 
and sell a good package of papers besides. Con- 
sequently there was an understanding that the 
applicant be blackballed. This was done to a 
man, proving previous arrangement. Mr. Willie 
Pabor was president of the Association. He 
arose and asked the editors what objection they 
had to Mrs. Churchill, saying : ^^She has accom- 
plished in journalism what no man in this State 
could do as an individual. Is the objection be- 
cause she is a woman?" One of those editorial 
lights arose with this brief answer : "No, it is 
because she is not a woman." This was what in 
elegant slang might be called "a dead give away." 
Mr. Pabor called for another ballot, which was 
cast, after the thing was understood, and there 
was not a dissenting vote. Mrs. Churchill had 
been informed of the first result, and remarked 
that it was about what might be expected from 
a class of men born of woman steadily taught 
from generation to generation that mothers were 
an inferior kind of animal, created on purpose 
to perpetuate an inferior class of men, that there 
should be no scarcity of day laborers. Mr. Pabor, 
the poet laureate of Colorado, for years after 

100 



REMINISCENCES. 

sent the literature of the Association, but Mrs. 
Churchill declined to have anything to do with a 
class of men so much below par with the women 
of the country. Mrs. Churchill is frequently so- 
licited for some organization. She steadfastly re- 
fuses to join, although an editor who blackballed 
her declared it to be done ^^just for a joke." It is 
a Avonder they had not said it occurred because 
they had been drinking. For a strong hold this 
is considered weak man's best refuge in time of 
trouble. 

A TERMAGANT. 

A drunken typographer had been dismissed. 
A middle aged woman called at the office asking 
for the place. This woman Avas about forty years 
of age, black eyes and black hair, a south of Ire- 
land type, and rather comely. She proved a good 
printer, and efficient, but Avhat a virago! x4l1- 
though she had expressed herself greatl}^ pleased 
at getting the place, there was constant grumb- 
ling and fault finding. Mrs. Churchill concluded 
that she had been accustomed to a diet of sticks, 
stones, tin cans, or any other old thing in sight. 
The assistant was a Kansas girl, lovely in dis- 
position as the other was terrible. This young 
lady had been employed to help about the mail- 

101 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ing, to look after advertising and local collecting. 
She had taken up a claim in Kansas, and with 
commendable courage and energy had come to 
Colorado for higher wages than she could get at 
home. When Miss L. would talk as if she were 
an ignorant mountaineer showing olf by bossing 
little niggers, Mrs. Churchill, finding a chance, 
assured the Sunflower girl by what consolation 
she could plausibly offer, saying Miss L. needed 
fresh air ; that the confinement of the office made 
drunkards of men and viragoes of women ; that if 
Miss L. had her fair share of the breath of life 
she would likely be a different person. She was 
in the habit of going to confession, so one day, in 
a softened mood, she related how her poor mother 
was a washerwoman, living in a shanty upon the 
hillside, and hoAv she (Miss L.) in childhood 
amused herself throwing missiles at the neighbor- 
ing wasliAvomen's children. The Sunflower girl 
(aside) says : ^'Poor Miss L. No doubt she needs 
fresh air; she also needed early training as well." 
These two sufferers then concluded that one gen- 
eration of fresh air and civilized training would 
hardly have worked an entire reformation. Then 
Mrs. Churchill, with a memory fifty years ripe, 
related to the Sunflower girl stories from real 

102 



REMINISCENCES. 

life about those termagants, and how they used 
to flourish before woman was permitted much 
education. Since woman has learned to read, 
this phase of human terror has almost entirely 
disappeared from the earth as we see it. 

It is likely reading biography of the life and 
sufferings of the subject has had much to do to- 
wards changing the ideas of woman on the cure 
for the termagant habit. If men had memories 
long enough to remember these results they 
would ever be thankful that women learned to 
read, and thereby found some who had the forti- 
tude to suffer martyrdom in silence until some- 
thing could be done to change the condition. 

Why a maiden lady should be such a scold 
was a great mystery to the editor and the Sun- 
flower girl. Whom had she a right to punish, 
as she did not own an enemy to the race of her 
own? She just blazed away at any one in sight, 
without rhyme or reason. When in her lucid 
intervals, her sarcasm and viciousness were for- 
gotten. If the Sunflower girl had been suffi- 
ciently experienced in xorinting, the South of Ire- 
land would have been discharged, but experienced 
women printers were very scarce. Miss L. was 
perfectly aware of her opportunity and made the 

103 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

most of it. There was a serious matter to take 
into consideration in publishing a paper without 
some i3erson sufficiently interested to see that the 
copy was properly overlooked and the correct 
thing for publication in that particular journal. 
Mrs. Churchill's editorials were sometimes gar- 
bled to suit the printers' ideas and to change 
the sentiment entirely. Unauthorized things were 
run in the columns. Those paid to look after 
these affairs were often found not trustworthy 
when the editor's back was turned. 

Mrs. Churchill had to reach the principal 
towns in about five of these western States in 
order to keep the expenses paid by subscription. 
The real reason women have few papers is be- 
cause of the reluctance of the business portion 
of the community to give a woman the advertis- 
ing at a fair price and pay cash. Men in the same 
business seem to feel themselves greatly wronged 
if a woman has any source of income that relieves 
her from constant toil and drudgery. Women 
with incomes from money at interest are fre- 
quently spoken of as criminals, with no other rea- 
son than an outburst of jealousy of the party 
who, from the sex standpoint, own the earth. 

104 



REMINISCENCES. 

A weekly paper never stands the chance in a 
large city that it does in a place not of sufficient 
importance to sustain a daily. Mrs. Churchill 
found it hard to collect at certain seasons of the 
year in a city of so many dailies. The extremely 
dull season occurs immediately after the holi- 
days. Mrs. Churchill found small places less 
affected, as far as the newspaper work was con- 
cerned, than larger places, so left her business 
in the city and reached smaller towns where there 
was less ground to get over and where things 
could be accomplished more expeditiously. Mrs. 
Churchill was owing the girl printer one week's 
wages, |12.00, and explained that it would take 
a few days to raise this, as she wished to take 
in Montana, and the distance was considerable, 
would take a little more time than she cared to 
spend on the road, but Montana was a good point 
for her business and she knew it. This State 
favored woman suffrage, and has since bestowed 
the ballot upon its women, simply as the natural 
right of any person submitting to the law and 
paying taxes. Mrs. Churchill explained to the 
printer that it would be necessary for her to get 
out in order to keep the bills paid. Miss L. 
expressed no objection to taking charge during 

105 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the editor's absence, and followed Mrs. Churchill 
to the vehicle which she took to reach the train, 
gave her an affectionate "good-bye," saying that 
"Mrs. Churchill was the most manly woman she 
had ever known, possessing courage to overcome 
difficulties of which any man might be proud." 
In a couple of days after Mrs. Churchill departed 
the girl sued for her wages. In vain did Mrs. 
Churchill's landlord and wife plead that her 
business be left undisturbed until the owner 
could return and defend herself. They offered 
the girl her wages and more if she needed it. 
All to no purpose. The woman being of the ex- 
treme impulsive Irish temperament, when wrought 
up by outside influence behaved like a demented 
steam engine. A friend of Mrs. Churchill's had 
a couple of bright young daughters who helped 
at the mailing. The father was notified of the 
attempt to break up Mrs. Churchill's business 
and at once proceeded to head off the enemies 
of freedom of the press. Three of the most im- 
portant cases of type in the office had been taken 
to a second-hand store in order for sheriff's sale, 
to satisfy a very small wage indebtedness. 

Dr. B., the father of the mailing girls, came 
iand took the cases back, installed another printer 

106 



REMINISCENCES. 

and got the paper out on time. In the mean- 
time the termagant went to every one of Mrs. 
Churchiirs creditors and told them that the edi- 
tor of the paper had gone on purpose to evade 
her debts and need not be expected to return, 
that they had better come and take what they 
could as payment. Collier & Oleaveland had 
always given Mrs. Churchill all the credit she 
asked. When Miss L. came to them they did 
not hesitate to tell her that they felt perfectly 
secure as far as the editor of that paper was 
concerned. They had had considerable dealings 
with her and were not in the least disturbed 
about her going away to stay and leave what 
she had accumulated to escape a few debts which 
were the legitimate result of trying to do busi- 
ness at all. When the woman found any one 
ready to defend Mrs. Churchill's interest she be- 
came furious and charged them with a volley of 
Irish Billingsgate, making some of the parties 
think she really was insane, and, as there was no 
reason in her proceedings, it was apparent that 
she was to have quite a sum for breaking up 
this office. When she found that the paper was 
to appear as usual she packed up her belongings 
and went to California. This move proved be- 

107 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

yond a doubt that she had allies and had been 
supplied with means to get away, as the money 
sent by Mrs. Churchill had not been paid to her, 
as she refused any consolation short of breaking 
up Mrs. Churchill's business; the money sent to 
Dr. B., that she might be paid, was used to de- 
fray the expense of the trouble she had made. 
In the earl}^ stage of this persecution Dr. B. 
had written Mrs. Churchill that she need not 
return to protect her rights, but to keep on with 
her trip until ready to conquer some other world ; 
that a printer was installed who was able to get 
out the edition and see it mailed properly. A 
few days previous the editor had written to the 
office to have the paper miss one week, and after 
this order had been cancelled, the printer set up 
the cancelled letter and had it printed. A printer 
receives something of a soldier's discipline in re- 
gard to obeying orders : "Follow copy if it takes 
you out of the window — even if the window is up 
more than one story." A printer is not of more 
importance than the soldier who made up the 
Light Brigade. California proved a hard place 
for a woman printer to find employment, and 
Miss L. wandered about looking for work until 
completel}^ worn out, then she was taken sick, 

108 



REMINISCENCES. 

and for want of funds sent to the county hospital. 
In time she recovered and was returning to New 
York when she stopped off in Denver. She came 
to see the landlady of whom Mrs. Churchill 
rented, and was told that the editor finding so 
much persecution in the heart of the city had 
bought property out near the City Park, built 
a house and was making her home on her own 
property when at home ; that she was yet obliged 
to be on the road most of her time in the interest 
of her publication, that in all probability she was 
now out on one of her business trips and could 
not be found if called upon. The landlord of the 
tenement had gone to the better world while this 
termagant was in California. After abusing the 
loveliest old lady one could imagine she finished 
her tirade by saying, "That it was a judgment 
upon her that she had lost her husband in the 
time she had been absent." "But he was an old 
man. Miss L., and we think nothing unnatural 
about the old dying," continued she; "we may 
hear of your death some time, and no one will 
think it a judgment upon the rest of us who are 
still alive." The vixen positively smiled as she 
contemplated the possibility of any one being 
punished at her taking off. Not many weeks 

109 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

after Mrs. Churchill saw in a New York paper 
an account of a woman by the same name, with 
the Miss attached, who had walked out of an 
open window of a building with many stories 
and was picked up from the pavement. She had 
bought some lots in Denver and made several 
payments; all this she lost by her remarkable 
deportment. This woman needed more fresh air. 

A NEW PRINTER. 

The paper did not miss an issue, notwithstand- 
ing an editorial proclaimed that it would. After 
this phase of persecution Mrs. Churchill con- 
cluded it would be wise to have her office away 
from the business part of the city where it would 
be more difficult for the enemy to operate. Con- 
sequently bought a pair of lots on Kace Street 
near Eighteenth, three blocks from the City Park. 
Five hundred was the price paid for the lots. 
The profits were so small on the little monthly 
paper that it took two years and a half of steady 
hard work to get the property paid for. Mrs. 
Churchill's books were more profitable, but Den- 
ver was found to be a very poor place at that 
time to get out books, and she found that she 
could not well ojDerate the paper and handle the 

110 



REMINISCENCES. 

books to advantage, so the books were slighted. 
The realty was satisfactory and it did not mat- 
ter at what point of the compass the paper was 
gotten out, the expense of express work would 
be no higher than in the heart of the city — one 
of the heaviest items of expense in conducting 
the paper. Although Mrs. Churchill was six 
months behind time in the payment of that prop- 
erty, the man of whom she bought saw that she 
was doing all that could be done with her oppor- 
tunity, so accepted her explanations and found 
no fault. There are a few men on earth who can 
treat a woman right if there chance to be no 
woman to influence them otherwise. Men are 
sometimes susceptible to influence the same as 
women are. Years after Mrs. Churchill met this 
real estate man, and as he now was known as a 
hopeless "Old Bachelor,'' Mrs. Churchill with- 
out his permission quoted the man who when 
he saw what a strife the rats and mice were 
making with his cheese, went to London to get 
himself a wife and tried to bring her home in a 
wheelbarrow, which did not prove a successful 
way of managing the bride. Mrs. Churchill prob- 
ably got off this nursery rhyme in pure vanity 
and for amusement. The realty man took it in 

111 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

high dudgeon and speaks to Mrs. Churchill no 
more. The next that will be heard of him is that 
he went East and died. Verily, the literal man 
is the funniest person on earth. 



112 



CHAPTER X. 



Printing Office Experiences, 
making a home. 
It was two years before the property could be 
mortgaged for five hundred dollars towards 
building a house for both office and home. Then 
a good citizen offered to let her have the money, 
and carpenters were found willing to trust her for 
five hundred in material and work. As the lots 
were inside of fire limits, the structure must be 
built of brick. So a thousand dollar house was 
built. For years the job expressmen were paid 
112.00 a month for taking this paper to the post- 
office and having it mailed. The postmaster gave 
the editor the credit of having the promptest 
paper mailed at the office, the best looking and 
with the most regular weight of mail. Of those 
three things did the postmaster have an opinion ; 
anything farther in relation to the paper was left 
to other parties. The establishment kept no 
press, as Mrs. Churchill was not a printer. She 
was here to educate public sentiment on things 
where there was need. Of course the master sex 

113 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

would consider this a great piece of arrogance, 
at the same time must admit that woman's in- 
fluence in public matters has at times been very 
potent of results. The money making phase of 
her mission would gladly have been omitted en- 
tirely if it had been possible, but this could not 
be done. Women as a class have no money at their 
command with which to defend their interests. 
They by rights should have a paid lobby at Wash- 
ington every session of Congress to look to the 
interests of their own sex. The paper has cost 
Mrs. Churchill a great deal of money and a vast 
outlay of most splendid energy. For this gift of 
exertion she gives heredity some credit, the cli- 
mate of Colorado more. Altogether, she issued 
her paper eighteen years without missing an is- 
sue. But twice was it late in mailing during that 
time. Mrs. Churchill had experiences with print- 
ers who have a way of reducing copy producers 
whenever their vicious vanities are to be pro- 
pitiated. Get the editor to buy some material 
that could not be used as represented, then tell 
it as a capital joke on superior intelligence. Low 
>cunning is ever the resort of those with low 
ideals. Woman has so long been the slave of the 
race, when she does appear in the might of her 

114 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

strength to ask for better conditions she is looked 
upon as a monstrosity by the herd. 

Colorado is by nature rich in a multitude of 
resources. There are fountains of wealth if one 
could but tap the source. Publishing papers in 
the interests of subject classes is not liable to 
bring much revenue. Help, like our neighbors, 
is not very stable in this Western country, con- 
stantly changing places and occupation. Once 
Mrs. Churchill was needing a printer, and in 
looking about, ran across the little fellow who 
stayed at the office to deliver the first edition 
and gravely informed Mrs. Churchill that he was 
^^a married man.'' No doubt, as the years rolled 
by, he had got a different idea of the woman 
editor, whom he saw had other business than that 
of taking advantage of men. He evidently felt 
sold, and sore over it, as he promised to come and 
get the paper out, but never came near, nor did 
he offer apology for trying to make the paper late, 
although he well knew Mrs. Churchill's desire for 
promptness. In waiting for the fulfillment of the 
promise, it would take two printers to get the 
issue out on time. Mrs. Churchill just heaved 
a heavy sigh at being treated thus, went out like 
a little man, found some typesetters, and ran 

115 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

them in. The paper came out on time as usual. 
Those people having petty grudges for no real 
reason, were ever trying to head off this will to 
be prompt as all foolishness in a woman. With 
all these little meannesses, there were people, and 
many of them, who fully appreciated the efforts 
of the publisher, and in the usual way willing to 
give her a helping hand. Nearly always was she 
permitted to occupy a whole seat in the cars, as 
much of her editorial work was done when on 
the road. On the other hand, when the day coach 
was crowded and the smoker was not, Mrs. 
Churchill took up her quarters in the smoker, 
without fuss or feathers, until things could be 
arranged, which was done usually with prompt- 
ness. The local agents of the railroad companies 
have been reckoned among her best friends. In 
one period of the paper's history a girl was em- 
ployed who with varying conditions remained 
two years. She Avas i)erhaps twenty-five years of 
age — old enough to have some stability of char- 
acter. As a general thing, women printers were 
hard to obtain, as there were many more men 
than women and the females were in great de- 
mand for wives and for service. The males were 
wont to garble copy when the editor was absent, 

116 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

and if addicted to the drink habit they were more 
liable to be petty thieves than women were. This 
girl was also of Irish descent, born in South Caro- 
lina but brought up a Protestant. On the whole, 
this girl was better help than the salaried class 
of typos would average. There is a kind of coarse 
familiarity, in some classes of people born and 
brought up in the Southern States, which is very 
repugnant to the Northern-bred person, espe- 
cially one of English ancestry. These people have 
a way of wishing themselves to be treated as 
"sisters," perfectly innocent of the fact that well- 
bred sisters are very careful about undue liberties 
with sisters' packages, letters or effects generally. 
All packages coming to the editor, whether she 
were home or out on a trip, were opened by this 
South Carolinian. People who read this will 
wonder why Mrs. Churchill did not put a stop to 
this thing; because there were many petty 
grudges to contend with of a more formidable 
character, it was not wise to multiply them. The 
jealousies coming from a difference in possessions 
is bad enough, but that coming from difference in 
tastes, which are brought about by superior nat- 
ural qualities, heredity, or better acquisitions of 
knowledge, whether by opportunity or superior 

117 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

application, or other cause, jealousies are ever 
ready to make trouble, as the scrub will some- 
times admit, just to even up things. There are 
two sides to the fact that there is class distinc- 
tion. Even brothers and sisters must live mostly 
among strangers in order not to be more imposed 
upon than neighbors and employes impose upon 
one. During the two years' service of this late 
printer there was a bone of contention between 
editor and printer whereby a kind of sly civil 
warfare was carried on, much as we hear of it 
being done in some Southern neighborhoods. The 
printer girl had three married brothers. These 
gentlemen were quite determined to be enter- 
tained by the editor. Loafing in the office by 
these or any other "gentry" was forbidden. The 
printer girl laid a plot whereby her brother could 
meet them at a certain point and accompany the 
two who were going to an entertainment by in- 
vitation. The brother's wife was home and not 
in a condition to be out. The girl danced with 
glee at the success of her plan. It spoiled the en- 
tertainment for Mrs. Churchill and was the last 
time the girl had an invitation to go with her. 
y/hen home was reached the girl was posted in 
such certain terms that a maneuver of this char- 

118 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

acter was never again attempted. "South Caro- 
lina," true to national traits, hinted at perse- 
cution. Said Mrs. Churchill : "Did it ever occur 
to you that this is a game that two can play at 
as well as one? I have influence enough to drive 
your brother from his clerical position, and force 
enough to drive him entirely out of this city, if 
I so desire." How innocently the printer girl re- 
marked that she "would not like that." "It is 
about what you will get if you undertake to im- 
pose your brothers upon me socially." "They 
are as good as anybody," was the very natural 
rejoinder. Admitted, but I do not attempt to 
place myself socially where I am not wanted. 
The Arab follows his sweetheart to some remote 
point, knocks her down and drags her to the tent 
by the hair of her head, and in some instances 
this constitutes marriage. Our method is a little 
in advance of the Arabs. There are yet men to 
be found who have not learned a better way. It 
is a queer phase of human nature that if a person 
cannot come to our terms she should at once be 
exterminated, as we destroy troublesome vermin. 
It is a queer world, any way; many of us never 
get used to it. Lord Macaulay says there are 
people born into the world whom the world is not 

119 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

yet fit to receive. It is likely his lordship was 
thinking of Milton when he made this assertion. 
In this case there were petty spites and low cun- 
ning during the stay of the printer girl. One 
phase of this spite was to leave off the distin- 
guished subscribers from the subscription list, or 
those known to be personal friends, as all paid 
in advance; this would have a tendency to dam- 
age the business as much or more than any other 
method. Another plan was to damage property 
not in immediate use, that there might be safety 
in delay. 

Two headings had been gotten out for the 
paper, that when one was too much worn for use 
it could be laid aside for a fresh one. The stock 
not in immediate use was being overhauled one 
day, and the discovery made that a cold chisel 
had been freely used on this heading so that it 
was rendered entirely useless. A pair of book 
chaces were rendered useless if needed, without 
an outlay of money and time. The centre piece 
of iron was removed and thrown in obscurity be- 
yond recovery. There were petty thefts, and 
damage to the amount of |40.00, which she had to 
pay at the final settlement. The printers used to 
say "The Queen Bee office" was a regular bonanza 

120 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

because the editor was obliged to be absent so 
much to raise money for expenses. There is one 
more of the girl printer's tricks yet to be re- 
corded. There was a load of brick for building 
to be located. The girl printer was told at what 
hour the brick would arrive. Mrs. Churchill w^as 
unavoidably absent. The brick came as per agree- 
ment. The girl went out to dinner and remained 
an hour and a half, keeping a boy driver, a hot 
day in August, waiting in the sun. When she 
came the boy gave her some very strong talk, 
saying that if she had remained ^Ye minutes 
longer he would have unloaded the brick where 
he was, and gone about his business. If the brick 
had been unloaded at that point she would have 
been obliged to pay for having them reloaded 
and taken to destination. Mrs. Churchill con- 
gratulates herself upon never having kept a team- 
ster waiting five minutes over time in her life. 
The punishment for a printer who could not get 
along with conditions at the Queen Bee offlce was 
to turn them over to a regular printing outfit, 
whose boss had a very gentle monosyllable for a 
cognomen. Never was there man so inappropri- 
ately christened. The name was . He 

seemed to be in a state of chronic indigestion at 

121 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

all times and under all circumstances. How the 
printers would like to have seen him and the 
South of Ireland woman in a tantrum. The tra- 
ditional Kilkenny cats would no longer have 
worn the national necktie. The woman would 

have had the loving cup. The name was a 

misnomer. Never man lived who so misrepre- 
sented the emblem of peace and good will to men. 
He was probably also in need of "fresh air;" this 
must have been the fact, as he was constantly pro- 
ducing gall and vinegar for every one who came 
in his way. Mrs. Churchill charitably fixed up 
his case as mechanical intensity, with no caliber 
for comprehending different orders of ability. 
Instead of condemning a printer in the usual 
platitudinarian manner, as before the revised edi- 
tion, he was sent to the printer. The printer 
girl went there, but did not long tarry under his 
tuition. She chose the better part and married 
a widower with one child. The printer girl came 
from good stepmother stock, so the child was 
blessed. It may be a wonder to some that Mrs. 
Churchill should take pains to record her own 
civil wars. Historians say there is not enough 
of interest in the peaceable events of a nation 

122 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

to justify writing. There must be so much of 
carnage to interest the males of \he race. 

A boj from Kansas wrote that he was a printer 
and desired to come to Colorado in order to get 
better wages. Mrs. Churchill needing a printer 
about this time, wrote that if he neither smoked, 
drank nor ran around nights, he could come. He 
came. A cadaverous looking youth, with a uni- 
form grey color predominating — hair, eyes, com- 
plexion and suit of clothing all seemed of one 
hue, as a boy of seventeen would be liable to look 
who had not had his growth and had been fed on 
low-wage diet. The boy of this age who has a 
mother to see that he is not overworked while 
growing, or underfed, can usually rejoice in a 
pretty presentable child, although he may not be 
w^hat young girls call a ^'pretty fellow." Women 
generally should be taught that the rough life 
men must needs lead, in order to be healthy, use- 
ful and manly men, would preclude the possibil- 
ity of a great degree of physical perfection, espe- 
cially in color. It is not a bad reflection to know 
that in all probability the human animal has en- 
dowments enough without aspiring to be the 
beauty of all creation as well as the ruler. 

123 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

The plain looking boj was installed with the 
ever-earnest and seldom iulHiled prayer that he 
prove at least a trifle more trustworthy than 
those who had gone before. Young people must 
have society, and without parental guidance they 
are liable to pick up any two-legged creature on 
the earth, and positively come under the influ- 
ence of one who has not a single trait of excel- 
lence by which he could recommend himself, say- 
ing nothing about being well spoken of by others. 
These social tags usually are great critics in their 
own way. The printers had regular stages of 
education coming from outside influences. Mrs. 
Churchill became such an adept in this order of 
proceeding, from its frequency, that she had an- 
swers all ''cut and dried" for the symptom first 
and last. The first symptom would show itself 
in the assertion that no woman could boss him, or 
her, as the sex might occur. The answer for this 
irresistible piece of logic would be : No help em- 
ployed here who does not have the capacity to boss 
himself or herself, as the editor is obliged to be 
so frequently absent as to make it impossible for 
her to become proficient as a boss. Mrs. Churchill 
had no time to waste upon the neighborhood, so 
was never popular. Knowing, as she did, how 

124 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

the "Pin Heads" of the world amuse themselves, 
she had no desire for popularity. Of course, 
such women are looked upon as monstrosities by 
people not at all familiar with the type. The Grey- 
boy was found well enough in his knowledge of 
the business to get out the paper while the editor 
was absent. He was found to have some ability 
for composition, but was silent, secretive, covet- 
ous — just the qualities needed to make a shallow, 
petty thief. Mrs. Churchill says that it is her 
experience that the smaller calibers among men 
are so jealous of any success shown by women in 
business that they will do all in their power to 
head it off and steal from and rob her every time 
it is possible. This certainly makes an interest- 
ing world for her to combat with. There was 
once a state constitution formed by most com- 
petent parties for the State of Colorado. It con- 
tained a clause i^roviding for magistrates who 
should be a salaried of&cer, whereby those 
wronged and not able to stand a law suit could 
have their grievances adjusted as well as pos- 
sible without expense to themselves. There were 
women in the council called for framing this con- 
stitution. It was not adopted. Too much pro- 
tection for the widow and the orphan. The Grey 

125 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

boy was left in charge, although Mrs. Churchill 
had discovered that he was the most consummate 
liar she had ever known. His conceit in his abil- 
ity to deceive surpassed all understanding. It 
may be well to say right here that a great many 
of those faults would have been headed off by 
dismissal, but that every time a change in print- 
ers occurred it was at a cost of not less than 
fifty dollars in time and general delay, and the 
new incumbent was more likely than not to be 
like Aristotle's swarm of flies, more empty than 
those already satiated. Poor, overworked women 
are often heard to say when interviewing an em- 
ployment agent, "Give me an easy place." There 
is no such, thing. On the other hand, the em- 
ployer seldom finds what he is paying for in an 
employe. There ought to be some mode of pro- 
tection for both parties. One dull summer Mrs. 
Churchill was obliged to be out longer than usual 
on canvassing trip. When she returned, Grey 
boy had made provisions for a positon in the 
postoffice. There was no objection raised to this, 
but Mrs. Churchill found her strong box, in which 
she kept valuable papers, had been opened and 
her personal jewelry all taken. In the course of 
comparing experiences it was discovered that 

126 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

Grey boy's father had visited him in Mrs. Church- 
ilFs absence. The secret drawer in the strong 
box was too much for the boy, so he called his 
paternal ancestor to his assistance. The boy had 
such perfect confidence in his ability to deceive 
the editor that he had on his watch chain an 
emerald ring that she had in her stock, kept for 
trading. He had done so much in this line, and 
had nothing said about it, that he grew amazingly 
bold. Mrs. Churchill called upon a big, stout 
neighbor, by whom she had lived for several years 
and knew him to be of the right material for such 
an undertaking, and asked him to come and help 
adjust the matter. He came, and Mrs. Churchill 
confronted the boy with his stealing. One would 
think a person with the courage to commit crime 
enough to send him to the penitentiary would 
have more "sand'' than to break down and cry 
like a great baby. This the Grey boy did. A 
person who has not sufficient moral courage to 
do what they will acknowledge to be the right 
thing is every time a coward and a sneak. This 
fellow was told that if he would confess all his 
stealings that he would be permitted to take his 
place in the postoffice, but that if any irregularity 
was ever heard from that source, he would meet 

127 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

with exposure of a most determined character. 
He then opened his trunk for examination. 
Books that had been sent to the of&ce for review, 
sheet music, and many other articles for editorial 
notices were found. The ring he was wearing on 
his watch chain he stoutly denied having stolen ; 
at last offered to surrender it. Mrs. Churchill 
told him of the record he had as a first class liar, 
and she further gave him to understand that she 
had never been deceived, for he had not the judg- 
ment to be consistent in his falsehoods. A falsi- 
fier has not well balanced common sense. The 
boy was charged fifty-five dollars for his stealings 
and permitted to go to his new position. If there 
chanced to be arrears in wages, the help had 
credit at the grocer's, which Mrs. Churchill pro- 
vided when out on long trips. These things were 
well arranged, so that there should be no want 
or reason for dishonesty. The account at the 
grocer's was frequently a cause of great injustice 
to the proprietor of the paper. They Grey boy 
continued for sever?) 1 years in the postoffice, but 
at last was snapped up for falsifying, and left 
the country very unceremoniously. Mrs. Church- 
ill wrote to the postmaster general and told him 
of the true character of the boy, and counseled 

128 



PRINTING OFFICE EXPERIENCES. 

them never to give him any public office, as it is 
doubtful, where father and son are of the same 
stripe, if reformation is likely to take place. 

There was a strain of malicious mischief in 
the boy's proceeding as well as theft for gain. 
A scrap book, which Mrs. Churchill had been 
many years collecting, was stripped of all the 
articles pertaining to her own career — many of 
them files of her own short sketches, songs of 
her own writing, and things that when destroyed 
could not be replaced. When the boy was asked 
what reason he had for malicious mischief, he 
said, "No reason." He could not say why he did 
it, unless it was to get even with the boss. "Did 
not the boss,'' as you say, "provide you a good, 
comfortable home and pay you better wages than 
you ever had paid to you before?" Yes, these 
points were all acceded. There is one printer, 
an elderly man, who is old enough, and knows 
by experience that the help in this office have 
been more than well treated. He ever is ready 
to put himself out to assist when there is need 
for extra help in the office. The office was never 
a straight-out Union office, but the help were al- 
ways paid Union wages. This elderly man is not 
under the influence of some outside "Pin Head." 

129 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

If one of that ilk were to approach him on the 
subject of feminine bossism he would give him 
a shut-up answer on the spot, and in five minutes 
it would be forgotten, while with the young peo- 
ple the thought would rankle until it became 
venomous. 



130 



CHAPTER XI. 



San Juan County^ Colorado. 
Mrs. Churchill was at Silyerton the time the 
road was being built. It hardly seems possible 
that so many changes can have come to pass in 
so few years. This town was reached by stage. 
It is a fascinating place, in a high altitude, sur- 
rounded by lofty mountains. The plateau upon 
which the town is built was covered with a soft 
carpet of grass, wild wormwood and mountain 
flowers. The place seemed so sweet, fresh and 
cool, and so near our ideal heaven, that one 
would long to be disembodied, that they might 
remain forever. Sordid business interferes with 
the languor of this haven and its poetical dreams. 
Mrs. Churchill is informed that she can go but 
two miles by stage on departing, as the railroad 
track is within that distance of the town, or the 
bed of the road was laid, so that the stage road 
was destroyed; then the stage passengers must 
walk a mile before reaching a construction train. 
The passengers were told that all baggage which 
could not be carried by hand must be abandoned, 

131 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

or left at the city of Silverton until such time as 
it could be recovered. Mrs. Churchill had a 
trunk, in which she carried her papers for sale, 
her exchanges, a change of raiment, an extra 
wrap for occasions, a shawl and shawl strap. 
The trunk had seen its best days, and might as 
well be laid out in the San Juan country as to 
endure farther imposition, as it was now tied 
up with ropes and required a trunk surgeon, a 
professional, to get at the contents. The situa- 
tion is not clearly comprehended until the place 
is reached, or the trunk would have been left at 
the boarding house, and the effects done up in 
the shawl and carried, as the emigrants used 
to do half a century ago. The short stage ride 
was delightful, but the end came, as was fore- 
told. The passengers and mail were got out on 
the ground. Then there began a hurried scram- 
ble to see who would get there first. This was 
not the reason for the scramble. The real rea- 
son was that no one seemed to exactly be able 
to comprehend what came next. No one wished 
to be left in a place very long that might be peo- 
pled with mountain lions, bears, or even wood- 
chucks. And, some way, every one seemed to 
think construction trains not as reliable as those 

132 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

running on schedule time. The man who had 
charge of the United States mail bags found 
more than he could handle without strings and 
straps, so that he might make a pack animal of 
himself for this rare occasion. He chanced to 
espy Mrs. Churchill's trunk and requested the 
ropes, as he knew no other way to overcome the 
difficulty of his task. Mrs. Churchill saw her 
way now to get those hard knots untied. While 
the mail man was doing up the great bags she 
was filling the shawl kept on purpose for such 
occasions. There was in the company an Eng- 
lishman, about six feet high, who did not, as a 
general thing, trouble himself about what others 
were doing, either how, when or where. How- 
ever, he espied Mrs. Churchill's luggage and re- 
marked that "It will never do to leave the wo- 
man with all this luggage," and without waiting 
for a response took up a heavy satchel, and with 
long strides made off with it. "Dear me," said 
she, "here is one mountain overcome. I never 
could have reached the construction train with 
that heavy leather satchel and the shawl, which 
was swelled out of all possibility of the strap 
in which it was usually carried." A walk of a 
mile, during which the track layers would occa- 

133 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

sionally exclaim, ^^See that lady with the pack 
on her back." One can endure much more rough- 
ing in these exhilarating climates than in level 
countries, as the fatigue soon passes off. The 
construction train reached, information is given 
as to time of departure — two o'clock p. m. and 
no dinner. The men could strike out for some 
miner's cabin and get something to keep off des- 
peration, but the "lady," as the construction 
hands had designated, could not endure another 
walk of a mile or two. The dinner was on time 
at noon for the workmen. Mrs. Churchill put 
in a claim for a bowl of soup and had her claim 
allowed. All of this necessity might have been 
averted if any one had only known what was 
coming and how to meet the situation. Years 
after, when Mrs. Churchill would make the trip 
in a comfortable passenger train, she looked for 
the spot where the trunk was discarded, and once 
saw woodchucks playing hide and seek in the 
hulk. "Csesar dead and turned to clay might 
stop a hole to keep the wind away." Upon one 
of Mrs. Churchill's trips to Silverton she met at 
the boarding house a bright young woman, em- 
ployed in the house, who wanted to go to Denver 
and learn millinery. This she thought her op- 

134 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

portunity, as she could accompany Mrs. Church- 
ill, and the rest could be made possible. The 
editor became interested in the girl^ and asked 
her if she was well enough educated to take 
chances in the business world. She said she had 
always lived in a new country, on a cattle ranch^ 
and her opportunities had been very poor. Said 
Mrs. Churchill : "It will never do in this age of 
the world. You must write a good hand, spell 
well, read anything in the language of the coun- 
try, and you must have a mathematical educa- 
tion; otherwise you go through life always feel- 
ing that you are handicapped, and that you have 
been grievously wronged by some one, whose 
duty it was to see you decently prepared to live 
in the world, with the chance to make the best 
of your abilities. What you want is a few terms 
at a good public school.'' Mrs. Churchill was 
soon to move into her own new house, and needed 
capable help. A bargain was made, by which 
the help was mutual. The girl was to manage 
the cooking for her own board and room for the 
winter. The fall term would begin in about the 
right time to give a chance to move and get set- 
tled. There were one or two stops before reach- 
ing Denver. The landladies, upon learning that 

135 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the young lady was going from house service to 
educate herself, would take no pay for her night's 
lodging and breakfast. This is given to show 
others how people will appreciate those trying 
to better their condition. No hotel bills for the 
struggling girl. To show how unsophisticated a 
girl could be, and still be one of more than aver- 
age intelligence, this is related : She heard some 
one say that we would meet the other train at 
Chama. Although over public school age she 
knew nothing of the management of railroad 
trains, and was positively fretting because she 
could not understand how those cars were to pass 
upon one track. Mrs. Churchill explained the 
mystery of switching to the best of her knowl- 
edge, and showed the girl the futility of fretting 
about a thing she simply did not understand; 
that she must learn to have confidence in the 
general management of the world's affairs; that 
there were many things needing woman's help 
and counsel, even her command, but men had not 
been brought to see the advantage and were still 
blundering along at the same old rate, even in 
railroading, killing a fearful number of people 
every year, where many lives might be saved by 
calling women into their councils. Women have 

136 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

learned that men are really capable of being 
made much more efficient for good works, and 
we can only work and pray and feed them to the 
best of our ability, to get better results than the 
world now dreams of. The girl proved a veri- 
table treasure. When school term commenced 
there was some question about her age, as she 
was several years older than the law allows for 
public school favors. Deception was not to be 
resorted to. Mrs. Churchill would call upon the 
county superintendent and have the matter ad- 
justed to suit the case. There were but two 
points to be discussed and Mrs. Churchill had 
won. A child is not to blame for being neglected. 
Some one is to blame, but not the child. Civiliz- 
ation is old enough to have had things better 
fixed for the entire world if there had been judi- 
cious management. Women would never have 
made a law prohibiting public education at any 
age when the victim might be prepared to avail 
himself or herself of its advantages. These two 
points settled the matter. Mrs. Churchill went 
to the bank with the girl, for the purpose of 
helping her about depositing her surplus earn- 
ings, sixty dollars, after reserving ^ye for her 
books. How is this for a girl house- worker? 

137 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

Mrs. Churchill went to the school and had a talk 
with the teacher. It was so arranged that the 
young lady should not be placed in grades^ but 
sit on the platform with the teacher. The im- 
provement was wonderful. The editor has al- 
ways contended that the principal difference in 
people is in opportunity. When this assertion 
is carried into hereditj^ it will be found a good 
argument, sound as any theory, well demon- 
strated, can be. In due time the young lady took 
her examination, and was found ready for the 
high school. Nor did she stop until she had 
taken the entire course, four years, in the high 
school. What is the most surprising thing about 
this little history? At the end of the term, and 
when ready to return to her widowed mother, 
she went to the bank and took out that money, 
the sum of sixty dollars, and paid her way home. 
The great secret of her economy lay in the fact 
that she never had bought inferior goods for 
clothing, and her wardrobe was not permitted to 
degenerate for want of care — things in which 
girls ought to be better trained than they gener- 
ally are. When vacation came the young woman 
had some place to go, where she could earn some- 
thing more than board. The last heard of her 

138 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

she was teaching in her home in San Juan 
county, near her mother, to whom she was very 
much devoted. 

THE KINDERGARTEN CHILDREN. 

Mrs. Churchill was one time coming down 
the street in Silverton, a broad, nice plank side- 
walk. At a cross street she encountered about 
forty children, apparently of about the same age. 
They came down the hill like a flock of birds, 
but in remarkably good order. When they 
reached the corner they all stopped, as if under 
some command. Mrs. Churchill stopped, also, 
because the way was completely closed and the 
only thing to be done under the circumstances. 
The little folks just stood and gazed, as if look- 
ing at an unexpected curiosity. '^Well, children," 
said the editor, "you are not used to white-haired 
old ladies, are you?" The gaze continuing, with 
no answer, she further said: "Do 3^ou think I 
am handsome?" One boy, a little larger than 
the others, vsaid : "You are all right." Then, see- 
ing the ridiculousness of the thing, the children 
were all in motion again, like a flock of birds, 
without friction, going together to the next cross- 
ing, then scattering, each for her own home. 
Mrs. Churchill says this was a pretty kind of a 

139 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

tableau, and, as there are many disagreeable 
things to record, it is only fair to the reader to 
have now and then something better than 
tragedy. 

THE BROKEN GIRTH. 

Once Mrs. Churchill was going from Tellu- 
ride to some other point, the destination not re- 
membered. The route led over the range, beyond 
the great snow basin, where a mail carrier was 
lost and his body not recovered for three years. 
An elderly man was employed to act as guide 
and furnish the means of transportation. Mrs. 
Churchill boarded in his family, always, when 
at Telluride. When the animals were being sad- 
dled something of an argument took place in the 
enclosure. This much could be heard at the back 
porch of the residence : ^^That girth is not fit to 
trust; it is old and tender," from a feminine 
voice. ^^I will use it," from a masculine voice. 
Prom the feminine voice : "Here, if you will in- 
sist on using that old girth, take this new one 
in your pocket, in case that gives way." "Very 
well," said he, and the new girth was deposited 
in a pocket and nothing more heard of the affair 
at that time. The means of transportation was 
a pair of mules, of excellent reputation for ami- 

140 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

ableness and horse sense. The matron of the 
house had gone out to see that everything was 
done to make the journey a safe one for the lady, 
who had made a home with them for years, when 
out in the interest of her paper. Mrs. Churchill 
had heard the confab about the girth, but paid 
no more attention, as she had perfect confidence 
in both parties, and knew the woman to be a per- 
son of excellent judgment. She knew, also, that 
the man was much the oldest, and sometimes 
querulous at supervision. The party had been 
told about having "slickers,'' to wear about noon, 
as there would be rain to encounter. Pandora 
was passed. The beautiful cascade, the longest 
in the state, that could be seen for miles from 
the right direction, was left behind. Fearfully 
narrow paths running around and along moun- 
tain sides were overcome, and the great snow 
basin, before mentioned, where the body of the 
lost mail carrier, with that of his horse and the 
mail bags, were recovered, after the search of 
three summers, conducted when the snow was 
lowest and softest. For thousands of years these 
great snow deposits have not been melted. These 
snow basins form the heads of the rivers, that 
unite and flow with such majesty through the 

141 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

country. Mount Hood is in sight, one of the most 
picturesque peaks in the Kocky Mountain ranges. 
This peak has attracted enough vapor by noon 
to have some to spare, and is sending a heavy 
mist down along the range in a most business-like 
manner. The rain coats are donned, and the 
patient mules are plodding on now through mud, 
instead of snow. The crest of the range is past, 
and the party are slipping, wading and plodding 
down hill. The guide, confident that all is safe, 
has made better time than the woman, who is 
trying to be as cautious as possible, and she is 
several rods behind. He hears a marvelous 
whoop, and, turning about, finds that he must 
retrace his steps and give his assistance, all be- 
cause he did not harken to the counsel of his 
better half. Coming down a very steep incline 
the old girth had given way. The saddle was 
around the mule's neck, bottom up. Mrs. Church- 
ill was standing on her head in her umbrella, 
with feet so entangled in saddle and bridle that 
it would have been quite impossible for her to 
extricate herself without help. She was badly 
frightened, and if her mount had been a horse, 
instead of a mule, she might have been killed 
outright. The mule, with the sense of a donkey 

142 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

and some horse sense, it is admitted, knows more 
in a case of emergency than many a person. The 
creature had braced his fore feet and put his 
ears forward as soon as he knew something was 
wrong, and never budged an inch until the trou- 
ble was over. Then he whinnied to the other 
mule to let him know of his own narrow escape. 
The other mule had gone to grazing on a limited 
scale until he should be called for. Upon inves- 
tigation, Mrs. Churchill found that she was not 
injured, only pretty badly scared. A three-cor- 
nered rent in her umbrella and a little mud were 
the worst of the damage. The new girth was 
produced from the left side coat pocket, and the 
journey resumed. Every year after this event, 
when Mrs. Churchill visited Telluride, inquiry 
was made about the faithful animals that took 
her over the range. If Mrs. Churchill had been 
a wealthy woman she would have given that 
mule, or the pair, a life annuity. 

Before the days of many railroads in the 
southern part of the state any person doing a 
traveling business was obliged to take queer 
chances in transportation. Mrs. Churchill had 
come to the end of anything regular in getting 
about, but was told a team would be along such 

143 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

a time and that she could take passage with this, 
and by noon that teamster would branch out in 
another direction. But at this point a couple of 
young men would be found taking their dinner 
under a big tree. These young fellows were 
freighters and had one good saddle horse, which 
they took turns in riding, while the other one 
directed the pack animals. Mrs. Churchill was 
told that she could lay claim to the saddle horse 
^^by right of discovery." She found everything 
as represented, only in one respect much better. 
The freighters were gentlemen and knew all 
about Mrs. Churchiirs career, and received her 
as if expecting her. This might be so, and if 
brought about was done verbally by people carry- 
ing messages from one point to another when 
going on business. Messages were often of much 
importance, so that it was a part of this primi- 
tive life to lend a willing ear and execute the 
message faithfully. This time a lunch was taken 
along. The saddle horse was hers until four 
o'clock; two young gentlemen walked instead of 
one. At length the parting of the ways came 
for the freighting party and she must make a 
few miles more in order to reach her destination. 
What providence was to come to the rescue this 

144 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

time remains to be fulfilled. It came, however, 
in good time. Mrs. Ohurcliill called upon the 
postmistress and was informed where she could 
get a horse, but a few rods away. The postmis- 
tress furnished her with a side saddle. Direc- 
tions were given for the return of both horse and 
saddle. Mrs. Churchill took her mount, strung 
up her hand baggage to the saddle, and was off 
in as great a quandary as was the widow of the 
prophet, trying to save her sons from slavery, 
when she applied to Elijah for a method, and 
was told how to retail oil that she could not dis- 
pose of at wholesale. 

The horse proves to be a sure-footed beast, young 
and able, so that the journey came to a close at 
dusk, and there at the big stable yard was a man 
waiting to take that horse back to the little berg 
where Mrs. Churchill obtained it. The saddle 
was not even removed. In these mining camps 
the people seem more like a congenial family than 
a conglomerate of different nationalities. The 
segregation and the isolation work wonders in 
the socialistic line. The same principle upon 
which the family is reared in domestic life : there 
must be honor and confidence in that honor — 
neither is often violated. Another time Mrs. 

146 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

Churchill, because of diverging roads, was left at 
the roadside with her hand baggage, something 
as poor Hagar, only without Ishmael. She had 
been told that a drove of horses would pass that 
way at this very hour. They had been driven up 
the mountain loaded with tourists and were re- 
turning to their stable saddled and bridled. Mrs. 
Churchill did not wait more than ten minutes, 
when there came that drove of fine looking horses, 
in the care of an intelligent man, and there was 
but one side saddle in the lot. There were two 
other men, one of them a tourist. Mrs. Churchill 
hailed them when at some distance, as the horses 
make very good time when going down hill. The 
men and horses come to a stop ; the affair is un- 
derstood, as likely other women had availed them- 
selves of this mode of transportation, and men, 
too, for that matter. The company were quickly 
mounted, Mrs. Churchill placed in the lead — a way 
those mountaineers have of showing deference 
for the wiser sex. The man in charge said, ^'Dear 
me ! She can ride as well as write." The destina- 
tion was reached in safety. 

A reader might wonder why a newly settled 
country was chosen for a work of this character. 
Because all reforms take root in new countries 

146 



SAN JUAN COUNTY^ COLORADO. 

sooner than in older communities, and in inacces- 
sible places there is not the same means at hand 
for getting rid of money. There is more money in 
the community and less competition. Older com- 
munities are always filled with reading matter of 
long standing. 



147 



CHAPTER XII. 



Ironton and Ouray. 

One of the finest pieces of scenery (outside of 
the Grand Canon of the Arkansas) in the state 
of Colorado. The sublimity, grandeur and ter- 
ribleness of the route is all the terror-seeking 
tourist will ask, as a usual thing. Thirty years 
ago the road was a mere trail. As it is a county 
road the trail has been widening as county work 
could be done, until it is now a good carriage 
road, with a prospect of railroad in time. The 
work is, of necessity, slow because of solid rock 
on one hand, rising hundreds of feet perpendicu- 
larly. There are sections of this highway where 
every foot of this rock must be blasted in order 
to make the huge notch required for a passage. 
Below this there is a precipice of such frightful 
depth as to take one's breath at a careless glance. 
There runs a mountain rivulet at the bottom of 
this declivity, and the distance is so great that 
the stream is to the eye not much more than a 
silver thread. If anything occurred to locomo- 
tion upon the narrow road the victim must take 

148 



IRONTON AND OURAY. 

the journey down that precipice, without a twig 
or growth of bunch grass to stay his deadly trip. 
The eye takes in all these possibilities at a 
glance, and the fear w^ould be fully equal to meet- 
ing a grizzly bear without means of defense. 

A PERILOUS TRIP. 

The first time Mrs. Churchill went over this 
route she firmly believed that it would be the last 
time. But each succeeding year brought improve- 
ment, which was reported, and the trip would be 
undertaken again rather than to go five hundred 
miles around by rail, which would consume much 
time. There were a loyal host of subscribers to 
her publication at Ouray, a point of too much 
importance, from a business point of view, to be 
ignored for precipices or any other thing. The 
first time the road was traversed by Mrs. Church- 
ill was going from Ouray to Ironton. There were 
a couple of livery men consulted, one whose 
name was Nutter, and '^Highwayman'' will do 
for the other. As the old files of the paper are 
on file at the State House, Denver, the data is 
not every accessible, or the name would not be 
withheld. The bargain was made for Mrs. 
Churchill to be carried as far as Eose's cabin 

149 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

for the sum of ten dollars. This was the contract 
with liveryman Nutter and the money paid in 
advance. When the hour came for the trip an- 
other man appeared upon the scene, and the jour- 
ney was taken on a donkey, the man walking. 
He was fully informed as to the contract, but 
made himself as disagreeable as possible about 
a small satchel, to be carried in his hand over 
the most dangerous part of the road. After the 
worst part of the trail was gone over he said he 
knew nothing of her contract with the other liv- 
eryman, and that he must have five dollars for 
his trouble, or we would turn back and con- 
sult Mr. Nutter, well knowing that the editor 
would not have traversed the route again for that 
sum. The fellow got the money, but something 
besides that he did not bargain for, for the next 
issue of the paper gave the particulars of this 
transaction in pseudo verse, or doggerel. Year 
after year Mrs. Churchill saw those fellows grow 
poorer in business until very ragged; then they 
disappeared altogether and went to some new 
field of action. A record is made of this case 
for its rarety among the mountaineers, as they 
were usually of a different order. 

150 



IRONTON AND OURAY. 
THE PROFESSIONAL MEN. 

Once when this road had been enlarged to the 
dignity of a carriage thoroughfare Mrs. Churchill 
was going from Ouray to Ironton, and there were 
as passengers two professional gentlemen from 
Michigan, one an M. D., the other a dentist. Both 
suffered with fear. The best that either could do 
was to ride with one foot out of the vehicle, ready 
for a foothold, if nothing more, in case every- 
thing did not go off harmoniously. They were 
so located in the wagon that one had a foot to- 
wards the precipice, the other towards the im- 
penetrable wall, as unscalable as the precipice 
was unavoidable. There was in either case no 
chance to be saved in case of accident. Those 
men could be heard, in a drowning sigh, to say : 
"Ever catch me going over this road again !'^ 

THE SNOWSLIDE. 

The snowslide visits this section frequently. In 
winter great caution is necessary to use the road 
at all. These slides take everything in their path, 
and go over this highway without sinking into 
the roadbed, making a beautiful snow roof, with 
open ends, so that for months teams go through 
as a tunnel is traversed. Mrs. Churchill has 

151 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

been twice through this snow tunnel in the month 
of August. The warm air of summer causes 
melting of the snow inside the tunnel, so that it 
forms in beautiful, regular geometrical figures, 
as regular as if the imprint were made by a skill- 
ful artist. Natural law is a great artist when 
dealing with snow. 

^'billy/^ the snowslide lamb. 
Once a miner was plodding his way home- 
ward towards Ouray and found a tiny specimen 
of a mountain lamb. He placed it inside his 
coat and quickened his step to the town. A gro- 
cer gave him sixty dollars for the little creature. 
It was carefully reared and the pet of everybody, 
even the dogs. One time the editor was looking 
after the interest of her publication, and was 
talking to some one on the walk, opposite to 
where the mountain sheep was standing. Said 
she: ^'What horns Billy has developed in the 
last year ! Is he not dangerous to be at large?" 
"Not at all," said the person; "he has never yet 
made the least trouble, but is as playful with 
dogs as with people." The sheep seemed to know 
that the parties were discussing him. He came 
across the street and laid his big horns against 

152 



IRONTON AND OURAY. 

Mrs. Chiirchiirs skirt as gently as possible, as 
much as to say, ^'I am not a dangerous lamb.'' 
She rubbed his head and patted him a little until 
he thought they were friends, and walked off as 
if perfectly satisfied that he had made the cor- 
rect impression. The next year when Mrs. 
Churchill went down she inquired for Billy, and 
was told that he eventually became cross and 
was considered dangerous, so his owner had him 
taken to a high precipice, in sight of Ouray, 
where a flock of mountain sheep had lived se- 
curely for years right in sight of the townspeople. 
The elevation is so great as to make the members 
of the flock look about the size of house cats. 
Billy had behaved very well for a snow-slide 
waif, brought up without parental influence. 

CHIEF OURAY AND HIS WIFE, CHEPITA. 

For several years after Mrs. Churchill's visits 
began at Ouray the Indian chief of that name was 
still living. His wife Chepita was well received 
at our national capital, whither her husband 
sometimes had occasion to go in the interests of 
his tribe. The Washington ladies used to dress 
her up in Indian costumes, but of rich material. 
Her appearance was so picturesque as to teach a 

153 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

national lesson, that beauty or style need not be 
confined exclusively to any one portion of the race. 
Mrs. Churchill finds in her neglected manuscripts 
a little song written years ago, upon the second 
marriage of Chepita, and from its sentiment in- 
fers that it was not customary for a widow of that 
tribe to take to herself a second husband, but that 
it became imperative in order to protect herself 
from the intrusions of the ruling race. 

MARRIAGE OF WIDOW OF CHIEF OURAY. 

Chepita the wife of Ouray, 
How could you so far go astray 
As to marry another man, pray? 

The Ute has a finer conception 
Than the white man of human perfection. 
And it is likely Chepita's deflection 
Came about by the way of reflection 
Upon the white man and his ways. 

Chepita, beloved of her race, 
The pet of the whites for her grace, 
Has lost forever her place, 
By a mixture of customs of race. 



154 



CHAPTER XIII. 



Beech Nutting. 

Mrs. Churchill in early life lived in a heavily 
timbered country, beech and maple being the 
principal forest trees. The small black bear, 
panthers, wild cats and grey wolves were the 
denizens of the great forest. Deer and foxes were 
numerous. Game birds were plentiful and well 
protected by British game laws. Fishes from the 
great and small lakes were abundant. The Eng- 
lish aristocracy are great sportsmen, and this be- 
comes inherent in three generations, as any cus- 
tom of the people does. Mrs. Churchill's father 
was from the better class of English, and was 
distinguished for his superior marksmanship 
during his forty years of citizen life in a province 
governed by his father's nationality. Mrs. 
Churchill asked her father, once upon a time, 
how it came that women do not go a-hunting 
for amusement as well as men. The answer was 
characteristic, and proves that men know more 
about some things than they are willing to ad- 
mit. Mrs. Churchill had heard that the Indian 

155 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

women of some tribes were better marksmen than 
the Indians were, and were superior at managing 
the canoe, but were never permitted to join the 
games where there were prizes offered for con- 
testants. The explanation was that a class hold- 
ing themselves to be superior did not want to 
come in competition with a class considered in- 
ferior, because if excelled the humiliation would 
be doubly embarrassing. Mrs. Churchill was fond 
of the great, silent forest and would have liked 
hunting, and probably found some excuse, as 
humane hunters often do, for killing the animals 
that had never given offense. Next to hunting 
came beech nutting in the fragrant woods. A 
poetical nature would hear music in the rustling 
leaves, the pigeon's lone cry, as most of them 
have gone south, and the blue jay's plaint, which 
is usually of a nature indicating loneliness. The 
maneuvers of the blithesome squirrel, the enjoy- 
ment of the roving pig, all contribute to make a 
paradise of earth for a few hours at least. Young 
life is so redolent with hope. The world with its 
terrible crosses is going to yield up such a fund 
of happiness, if we only have the patience to wait. 
Nature keeps us waiting, with an occasional 
glimpse of the rainbow, and fools us along where 

156 



BEECH NUTTING. 

lies the bag of gold, until we are tired enough 
to give up and wait for death to put an end to 
all this foolishness. We are then willing to be 
worked over into earth worms or any other thing. 
Mrs. Churchill and sisters had been beech 
nutting and remained so late as to be hungry 
as young wolves. They stopped at a log cottage 
where lived a poor woman whose husband was 
a day laborer and an habitual drunkard. This 
woman was frequently employed by the editor's 
mother to do heavy housework. She was large 
and strong, and silent as a sphynx, but neat 
and ord'^rly, and for her opportunity was an 
excellent housekeeper. A half sister, several 
years Mrs. Ohuchill's senior, stated the case to 
the woman, telling how hungry the younger 
ones were; that she did not know if some 
of the party could reach home a mile away with- 
out something to eat. The sister proposed to give 
the woman about three pints of beech nuts if she 
would give the party a little something to stay 
them until they reached home. The woman laid 
down her sewing and proceeded to make some 
biscuit, as she had no bread. A small bowl was 
brought filled with buttermilk, which was chem- 

157 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ically treated with the old-fashioned salaratus 
and a little salt, and meat fryings for shortening. 
This compound was worked with flour in a small 
wooden bowl. When the consistency was right, 
rolled out and baked in the ashes. The women 
likely had no oven, not even the old-fashioned 
bake oven. Hot ashes were drawn out upon the 
hearth of an open fire-place, of the most primitive 
pattern. The hearth was of large grey stones. 
The cake was placed on the cold ashes drawn 
over the hot embers, then cold ashes put on top 
of the dough, and hot embers covered the whole. 
There was nothing to do but wait. Children in 
those days were taught to be seen and not heard. 
The whole party was a very silent one, likely from 
extreme fatigue on the part of the children. The 
woman had not uttered a sound since the party 
were seated. The eldest sister had some few re- 
marks to offer on what had been seen in the dark, 
silent woodland. After some patient waiting 
(mostly because too fatigued to be restless) the 
cake was silently taken from the ashes and 
brushed off with a clean cloth, broken in pieces 
to suit the number to be served, butter from a 
scant quantity was put upon each piece, and the 

158 



BEECH NUTTING. 

bread devoured by the hungry beech nutters. 
Never did food relish better. The spokesman of 
the children's party ventured a compliment upon 
the success of the biscuit. There was no answer. 
The payment of the nuts agreed upon and a small 
cup of buttermilk closed the feast. 

The children found their tongues by the time 
home was reached. Mother was getting anxious 
at the long delay, as it was time the young folks 
were at home. Dear me! said the mother, it is 
a pity you could not have waited till home was 
reached, and not trouble the poor woman to cook 
for you. The spokesman was an excellent hand 
at managing such affairs where little ones were 
concerned, and in her apologetic explanation 
said : "Mother, you know we could never get you 
to make us an ash cake, and I was very anxious 
to know what kind of biscuit it could be." Mrs. 
Churchill's family baking was done in an out- 
of-doors brick oven that Avould bake ten loaves 
at a time, and as many pies could be perfected 
after the bread was removed to a cooling board. 
In the days of large families things had to be 
done on a large scale. Women could not well cook 
bread every meal, and care was taken that things 

159 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

were prepared up ahead and on hand. Ice was 
not in general use; the clean, spacious cellar an- 
swered to some extent the same purpose. The out- 
of-doors milk house, with running water in the 
bottom, was also an ideal place to keep food in 
warm weather. The meat roasts, the roast pigs, 
geese, ducks and wild game, cooked in that big 
brick oven leaves a savory memory at least. The 
custards and Indian puddings, with baked fruit 
and all vegetables that were "bakable." There 
was in this home a large oak chest with two 
spring locks. Just such a receptacle as caught 
the bride of Mistletoe fame that was missing 
for twenty years. This great chest was used as a 
store house for the maple sugar, and a good sup- 
ply of honey was also in store. Mrs. Churchill's 
mother was Holland and German stock, trans- 
planted to Pennsylvania soil, where housekeep- 
ing was brought to a great state of perfection 
a hundred years ago. Mrs. Churchill's parents 
were busy, earnest people. For many years 
the family about the board numbered nineteen 
people, including apprentices, children, grand- 
children and invalids, being treated for almost 
any ailment to which flesh is heir. The father 
and mother were well calculated to keep a hotel 

160 



BEECH NUTTING. 



or sanitarium; just what they were doing without 
being conscious of the fact. If teeth were to be 
extracted the mother could do a plain piece of 
dentistry as well as the doctor, who was ten miles 
away when at home. 



161 



CHAPTER XIV. 



Maple Sugar. 

The season for tapping the trees was ever a 
season of joy. One learns the kind of weather 
required to make the sap have the best runs. 
It was the weather that produces acute catarrh, 
so that the running of sap came to have a double 
meaning to children. The sugar bush had charms 
because of the novelty, and because the whole 
world is new to children and most charming. 
When one gets a little experimental comparison 
the thing is seen in a different light. The baby's 
song reads, '^ Sleep, little bird, and dream not 
why." 

It was learned later that father's sugar works 
were not equal in size to some of the neighbors', 
as they manufactured for sale; the other was 
only for family use. This was a great surprise 
to some of the house, who had an idea that the 
largest family in the neighborhood should cer- 
tainly be equipped with the best facilities for the 
sugar business. An elderly woman who had been 
widowed about a year, was asked how she pros- 

162 



MAPLE SUGAR. 

pered? She answered, "Very well, only we do not 
have as much ^sweetening' as when father was 
alive.'' Mrs. Churchill dreamed over this simple 
human story, imagining how the poor old man 
became stooped in his shoulders, carrying sap 
with a neck yoke, and doing the work years after 
he was really not physically able to do this class 
of labor. Then missed more for his sugar pro- 
ducing ability than for anything else. She finally 
concluded that this miss was a better hit than 
every one makes, as some are only missed for 
utter worthlessness. The children were mostly 
at school, and had little to do with the general 
exercises of the process until sugaring-off day 
came, which was usually in the afternoon, and 
sometimes late in the evening, as this job could 
not be deferred to a more convenient season. The 
mother superintended these occasions, saying 
that the men folks were liable to let the sugar 
burn, and that would render the batch only fit 
for vinegar. Once the family returned home at 
dark, all having been out at the finishing process 
and eating warm sugar until as hungry as young 
wolves for a good supper. The hoods worn in the 
bush had not much more than been laid aside 
when supper was announced. What a surprise; 

163 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

there had been no one left at home to attend to 
this matter. The meal was a boiled dinner, really, 
the best calculated to appease a sugar-sur- 
feited appetite. This very welcome and much 
appreciated supper was for several days dis- 
cussed by the elder children of the household, as 
if it had been a miracle. There was no one at 
home to attend to this matter, and it was months 
before it was disclosed that a party had been 
promised a big roll of sugar on a freshly cut 
hardwood chip for attending to that meal, and 
having it cooked by the time the family returned. 
The vegetables were prepared early, and a child 
was sent to tell when the sugaring-off business 
would be over. The party was a neighbor and 
had duties of her own, was the reason it seemed 
so mysterious. This effect was more accidental 
than anything else; the mother, enjoying the sit- 
uation, did not explain until the roll of sugar 
on the chip was discussed by the recipient; then 
the matter was gradually unfolded. The big 
cakes of well grained maple sugar were placed 
edgewise in dishes that caught the molasses, as 
the drainage was called, to be served with hot 
griddle cakes. The great oak chest was the store- 
house for sweets. 

164 



MAPLE SUGAR. 

About this time a carding mill was estab- 
lished not far from Mrs. Churchill's home. The 
innovation was a great curiosity, because the 
women had hitherto carded their own rolls 
and spun them; now things were to be dif- 
ferent. The spinning of both wool and flax 
Mrs. Churchill had seen done on a limited 
scale in her own family. There was homespun 
forthcoming and worn, but not to the extent of 
that of some communities. The author learned 
to knit socks and stockings, but the manufac- 
turers were upon the country and there was not 
much home-made clothing after 1845. She re- 
members a blue and white linen dress, home 
made, in which she kneeled to say her morning 
prayers at the family altar. This goods when 
freshly ironed shone with a luster like silk, and 
was thought to be very pretty. In one of these 
freshly ironed linen dresses she made a visit to 
a much beloved niece. There had been building 
going on, and a pile of bricks was an irresistible 
inducement to teach the niece, of about the same 
age, to make chimneys that would draw, and 
brick ovens that would bake, though not as large 
as the grown folks had. The business was pushed 
with such energy that the time for dinner was 

165 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

not taken into consideration, and when the call 
came, the front of the little aunt's dress was 
about the color of the bricks, the material having 
been transported with a familiar hug against the 
newly ironed linen dress without regard to con- 
sequences. Children are often more earnest in 
the work called play than grown i^eople are in 
real work, hence some insignificant thing is liable 
to be overlooked, for which grown folk would 
prepare. Dinner was announced. The situation 
was little short of terrible, as the freshly ironed 
linen was in such a deplorable condition as to be 
unfit to appear at any one's table. The niece was 
a child of resources. She brought a clean, 
bleached linen towel and a paper of pins. By 
pleating one end of the towel the right size a 
bib was tastefully improvised that concealed all 
the evidence of the wearer having been engaged 
as a common bricklayer. For this little feat in 
overcoming a serious difficulty the young folks 
received congratulations. 



166 



CHAPTER XV. 



Miscellaneous, 
dentistry. 
It is surprising to the young generation that 
dentistry has been practiced so short a time com- 
paratively. The world of inventions seemed to 
stand unsolicited until woman came to be very 
well educated, so that her influence began to tell. 
Mrs. Churchill relates a story about the tooth 
extracting done by her very efficient mother, 
and some way the woman was far enough ad- 
vanced in the knowledge of the structure of 
teeth not to destroy the processes. She had 
been an assistant to a brother, who had a large 
practice at the time doctors did the tooth pull- 
ing because they could not help themselves. 
One very cold night, at a late hour, a big, 
strong young man called to have something done 
for a most distressing case of jumping tooth- 
ache. If the mother could give no relief the 
man would have been obliged to ride ten miles 
to a doctor, and then not sure of finding him 
at home. Mrs. Churchill was at that time about 

167 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

twelve years of age, and hearing a commo- 
tion in the lower rooms, arose from her bed, went 
down stairs, opened a crack in the door far 
enough to watch proceedings, and from this 
makes her report. The mother seemed to do a 
moment's earnest thinking, then said she : ^^There 
have been two pairs of turnkeys left here to be 
delivered to two doctors living in an adjoining 
township. If you are willing, I will pull the 
tooth and end your suffering." He sat down in 
front of an open fire-place, the light improved by 
a handful of lightwood. A darning needle was 
used to remove the gum, as there was not a suit- 
able knife at hand. The instrument of torture 
was wound with a red silk handkerchief, for the 
better protection of the gums. The instrument 
was placed upon the top of the root and out came 
the offending tooth, striking the hearth. The 
man jumped to his feet and spit in the fire-place. 
And while examining the tooth that had given 
so much pain he exclaimed: "There is a hole 
large enough to drive in a span of Norman horses 
and turn around !" After putting a pinch of salt 
in the wound there was a bill passed into the 
hand of the operator; there were profuse thanks 
upon the young man's part that a woman could 

168 



DENTISTRY. 

be found with sense enough to be cruel in order 
to be kind. Another pair of tooth keys were sent 
for, these being kept for further service in the 
immediate neighborhood. Mrs. Churchill has 
those very instruments in her cabinet of curi- 
osities. It is sixty-five years since the first tooth 
was taken out with them. 

Once Mrs. Churchill was at Pueblo in the 
interests of her paper. The trunk containing 
her material for business had not been sent to 
her boarding place, the parties in charge mak- 
ing the very lame excuse that as it had been 
snowing she would not be likely to need the 
trunk or the contents. When people talk about 
the business of other people they seldom know 
a single point of the things they are merely 
speculating upon. She rushed off to the depot, 
but to find the man in charge of the baggage 
gone to his home, as these were the days be- 
fore Pueblo had a union depot. Mrs. Churchill 
followed on to catch him there, but to be told 
that he had returned to the office. While in the 
house the snow drifted in such a way that she 
could not open the gate. The location was rather 
remote, and as the day was stormy, there were 
few people out. The house stood on an elevation 

169 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

several feet above the street; it was surrounded 
by a picket fence; the snow hid this fence from 
sight as well as the gate. She concluded that 
there was but one way out of the difficulty ; that 
was to lie down and roll over the fence to the 
road. As she wore a heavy wool plush cloak, that 
distance of twenty or thirty feet could be over- 
come without serious injury to person or cloth- 
ing. The feat was successfully accomplished, the 
trunk released from check, and in a short time 
accessible so that business could go forward as 
usual. 

Mrs. Churchill was at Las Animas, Bent 
county, stopping at the Gardner House. In the 
night she was awakened by the smell of smoke; 
she arose and raised a curtain, to find a brisk 
blaze rising as fast as possible to the roof. She 
had in early life taken down the high tones of her 
voice, used so much by the U. S. A. women to the 
great disgust of cultivated foreigners. In this ac- 
complishment she had made use of what she called 
an elocutionary whoop. This queer noise would 
arrest a band wagon, if the performers had never 
heard it before. One of those signals, followed 
by the cry of fire, brought the traveling men in 
their night clothes to the lower hall, where the 

170 



DENTISTRY. 

landlord had by this time appeared, and with 
the available Avater at hand, mostly from pitch- 
ers, the flame was brought into subjection until 
entirely extinguished. A scoundrel had been 
hired to burn the house because of business jeal- 
ousies. He was to receive thirty dollars for the 
job. When it was found to be a failure the party 
of the first part refused to pay the money, so the 
party of the second part sneaked about until 
he got a chance to steal the amount he was to 
have if he succeeded. This led to the arrest of 
the party of the second part, and a trial followed, 
and the reader will be obliged to get the outcome 
of that trial from Bent county records, as Mrs. 
Churchill thinks both parties escaped punish- 
ment, when in all reason both should have been 
sent to the penitentiary. The hotel was a hand- 
some frame structure, built by a widow who had 
brought up three children by her own exertions 
and was a first class citizen. The landlord at 
the time of the fire was her second husband and 
a prominent citizen. At this house Mrs. Churchill 
was entertained, ever after that, free of expense. 
The property would not have been a loss to the 
family alone, but a loss to the county seat of Bent 
county. 

171 



CHAPTEE XVI. 



The Silver Panic. 
In the year 1893, when the State of Colorado 
was suffering from what is known as the silver 
panic and remembered with a shudder as a dread- 
ful calamity, Mrs. Churchill discontinued the 
publication of her weekly paper. Nearly every- 
thing was discontinued in the State, unless it 
should be the movement of tramps. There was 
nothing to do, and nothing to do with. The silver 
mines, the principal industry of the State, were 
shut down. Mrs. Churchill had a few pet chick- 
ens and a cat, with which to break the monotony. 
Owning her home, she had no rent to pay, and the 
dullness of the time gave her leisure to thor- 
oughly overhaul the office and the whole place. 
She found plenty of clothing put away in barrels ; 
old umbrellas in the garret. Most of us know 
how well paid girls will dress and lay aside their 
things when no longer in shape to be worn, mak- 
ing no more use of them because they either have 
not the time or do not know how. The young are 
not yet educated in the matter of caring for wear- 
ing apparel, nor in the importance of this branch 

172 



THE SILVER PANIC. 

of thrift. Mrs. Churchill always walks with an 
umbrella as a cane. While she is not really lame, 
she is not strong on her feet. She could never 
make a successful skater on either ice or rollers 
because of this infirmity, which was never known, 
even in her own family. This accounts for the 
collection of umbrellas. Mrs. Churchill found, 
as winter approached, she was in need of a good, 
warm hood, so cast about for material for a door- 
yard bonnet. There were half a dozen mailing 
tables covered with batting and oilcloth. Some 
of those could be dispensed with. The batting 
would do for hood making, although in the mass 
of material at hand there was some available 
wadding. Mrs. Churchill had in her early youth 
learned something of millinery and dressmaking, 
for her own personal appearance. After con- 
structing her hood, which was wadded with the 
filling of a discarded mailing table and lined with 
a resurrected umbrella, there was an unexpected 
demand for hoods. Twenty of those winter con- 
veniences were made and placed before the supply 
of material gave out. Where the cloth was a 
substantial black, if an umbrella cover, it was 
washed, starched and nicely ironed, making bet- 
ter goods for linings than we usually buy. There 

173 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

were old ribbons enough, cleaned and restored 
with diamond dyes, to make bows and strings for 
a regiment of hoods. 

No one ever heard Mrs. Churchill complain of 
being lonesome. She says in a world where there 
is so much to be done the lonesome business is 
more or less a want of will or ability to adapt 
oneself to the needful conditions by which every 
human being is constantly surrounded. A down- 
town gentleman once asked Mrs. Churchill how 
she entertained herself through the long, dull 
winter. By reading good books, writing, prac- 
ticing music, feeding chickens and talking to pets. 
The next morning in Mrs. Churchill's alley, one 
block south, was found a lady dog tied to a post, 
and in a cheese box near were six young puppies. 
The family were blooded stock, and Mrs. Church- 
ill always associated this outfit as a supplement 
to the pet business ; only the person delegated to 
locate the dogs missed the intended residence by 
about one block, but had the correct alley. The 
humane officer was called and the dogs all chloro- 
formed. The person who owned the property 
nearest where the dogs were located felt greatly 
injured at this treatment, although some one tried 
to prevail upon him to think that it was more 

174 



THE SILVER PANIC. 

dogmatic than hostile. Life is filled with wonder- 
ful mysteries. We are only obliged to wait the 
judgment day, when the graphophone of the uni- 
verse shall be set in motion and some of the Den- 
ver men will call for the rocks and mountains to 
fall upon them, rather than listen to their own 
preserved plottings. 

And when they have been there ten thousand 
years, 

Bright shining as the sun. 
There will be no less days 
To stand the blaze 

Than when they first begun. 

We are taught for a comfort in this life that 
in the future there will certainly be more equity 
in distributing justice; that fully one-half of the 
judges shall be of either sex, so that all law and 
custom shall not be made in the interests of part 
of the race and executed for one party's whims, 
to the detriment of the other party's rights. In 
the future life no such condition shall prevail. 
Blessed hope! Let us believe and be resigned! 
It seems to be all that can be done with this world 
of mud and smoke upon such a gross plane — that 
our only hope for better conditions is located in 
the future. 

175 



CHAPTER XVII. 



New Mexico. 
Mrs. Churchill was once at Georgetown, N. M., 
twenty-five miles from Silver City. The drive to 
Georgetown terminated in the afternoon. The 
people in this mining camp were preparing to 
amuse themselves with a dancing party. Mrs. 
Churchill never attends these places. If she had 
a taste for this class of amusement she would not 
be able to participate, because not able from a 
physical standpoint to endure as much work as 
was really essential to the welfare of her business, 
aside from dissipations. After supper Mrs. 
Churchill retires for the night, very thankful that 
the hall where the party was to be held was no 
nearer, as a tired traveler thinks more of rest 
than the whine of a poorly played violin. The 
great mass of people are not capable of compre- 
hending anything much beyond their own envi- 
ronment, hence one of different tastes from them- 
selves is considered a monstrosity, only needing 
discipline to be brought to think as others do, 
and act as others do. The old beer drinkers and 
whiskey tipplers of almost any country have been 
known to speak of a teetotaler as a man deserving 
to be obliterated or banished from the common 

176 



NEW MEXICO. 

benefits of segregated society. But above all 
things, a woman must not be tolerated in with- 
holding herself from popular doings. On this 
occasion Mrs. Churchill was not long in finding 
out that she had incurred the displeasure of the 
multitude by withdrawing to her own apartment 
instead of going to the entertainment, although 
she had not been served with an invitation. She 
was treated as men sometimes treat women for 
not proposing when lacking the courage to do so 
themselves — take it out in petty revenges. As 
the night wore on, it became evident that a boy 
had been stationed upon the uncarpeted steps to 
strike them with a whip from the limb of a tree, 
so as to prevent any one from sleeping. When 
these things occurred, which was not infrequently 
in this land of the people, by the people and for 
the people, meaning the males of the race ex- 
clusively. It was found best to keep perfectly 
quiet, and get as much rest as was possible under 
the circumstances, as business is business, which 
takes strength to perform. Finally one of the 
crowd had become well fired up with explosives 
and came in front of Mrs. Churchill's room door 
and delivered himself of some trite U. S. A. isms. 
The victim of this tragedy had noticed a five- 

177 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

quart lard pail standing on the stove, where some 
one had left it after bathing. The door was 
hastily unlocked and the contents, very conven- 
ient to the door, deliberately poured over the of- 
fensive party. Mrs. Churchill knew by his drawl 
that he was not likely to make any very active 
demonstration, so stepped back in her room, 
locked the door and listened for developments. 
The hall was without carpet, and the dripping 
water could be heard in the stillness nearly all 
over the house. The inquisitor with the whip was 
convulsed with laughter, and every effort on the 
part of the other silent spectators was in vain; 
the boy lay down on the hall floor as if in a fit, 
and laughed until his merriment became so con- 
tagious that Mrs. Churchill herself laid upon her 
bed and laughed heartily. Anything will go if a 
joke upon the other fellow. The situation be- 
came doubly ridiculous because the fellow was 
hardly able to get away without assistance. Mrs. 
Churchill obtained about four hours of sleep, in 
spite of the disagreeable occurrence. If women 
could have a hand in executing the laws for their 
own, these shameful performances would become 
of rarer occurrence. Men have given women 
the reputation of not being able to keep secrets. 

178 



NEW MEXICO. 

The editor has taken them at their word and has 
told the whole unjust story every time it became 
justifiable. At the breakfast table Mrs. Churchill 
told the landlady that it was her duty to have 
stayed home, or delegated some competent person 
to remain in the house to see that her guest was 
not molested. The woman made some apology in 
self-defense, and the editor went forth in quest 
of subscribers for her publication, also to sell her 
book. The incident was the talk of the town. 
Mrs. Churchill was informed by respectable par- 
ties that there were plottings for the night to 
come, and that it would be wise for her to get 
through in time to leave, as the element was 
such that she could not very well be protected. 
The stage was tri-weekly and would not leave for 
Silverton until next day in the morning. Mrs. 
Churchill looked about for teams that might be 
going to the other town, but found none. In 
making up her mind that she might have some 
walking to do in this affair, she paid her bill and 
ate no dinner, as this is the best condition for a 
warrior when exhausted and with another battle 
in prospect. She took her hand baggage, about 
forty pounds, and began a journey which might 
have ended in death, or what is worse. There is 

179 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

a long hill to climb when leaving Georgetown; 
the baggage became fearfully heavy. There were 
several Mexican women on the lookout, as they 
all had ears for sensation. One was heard to 
say, "Look at that lady ! Where can she be go- 
ing?" There were those that knew there was a 
possibility of her having been obliged to rest in a 
heavy body of timber skirting the road. A good 
part of the way to Silverton was timber land. 
This piece of woodland was known to be the home 
of a variety of wild beasts, and the prospect was 
a forbidding one. Mrs. Churchill had placed her 
baggage on the ground several times, and taken 
it up again to continue the journey. All the 
teams met were those going to the place from 
which she was fleeing. When she had been toiling 
up that hill about an hour a Mexican came going 
the same direction. He was riding a large, cream- 
colored donkey. He alighted from the donkey, 
put down his two hands and asked Mrs. Churchill 
in Spanish to mount. She declined, but allowed 
him to take her baggage and tie it to his saddle, 
which was covered with strings and already 
loaded with a variety of things besides his gun. 
She could very well keep up with the donkey, and 
being relieved of her baggage found her courage 

180 



NEW MEXICO. 

returning, which she was not until then aware of 
having lost. They had not gone far until the 
Mexican again got off the donkey. This time 
Mrs. Churchill stepped into his brown hands and 
was placed in the saddle. It was a great surprise 
to Mrs. Churchill, but when the Mexican sud- 
denly got up behind her, she was more than as- 
tonished. He took the reins, which were lying 
about the horse's neck. Mrs. Churchill awaited 
further developments, but nothing to censure oc- 
curred. In the attitude which compelled his 
arms around her he evidently intended to prove 
to her that a Mexican could be a gentleman if 
her own countrymen did not know a lady when 
they saw one. She told the man that she was 
going to the Old Sante Eito mine, which she had 
passed when coming in and had a good part of 
its history. The postmaster at the old mine had 
recognized her and called her name, so she felt 
she might call upon him for assistance out of the 
difficulty. She found the Mexican a man of cul- 
ture, who was from Old Mexico visiting relatives 
and going a-hunting for amusement. He spoke 
a little English and Mrs. Churchill has a little 
Spanish and understands much more than she 
speaks. 

181 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

Some philosopher has said that out of our 
miseries springs our best happiness. In this case 
natural law was verified; the reaction had set 
in, and she remembered another woman who, 
eighteen hundred years ago, had been obliged to 
flee from tyranny, and, the story says, on the 
back of a donkey. Mrs. ChurchilFs chief anxiety 
now came from fear that the poor little beast 
they were riding would be broken in two, as the 
weight it was carrying was not less than three 
hundred pounds. She raised a protest against 
the spurs from the first, that the animal should 
not be abused from the results of her individual 
misfortune. The Santa Eito mine was reached. 
In a second the Mexican had alighted ; helped his 
charge to the ground, also. Mrs. Churchill says 
she never beheld a quicker action than that of 
unstringing her baggage. By this time the post- 
master was at the door. A confabulation took 
place. The postmaster spoke Spanish with ease, 
and requested the Mexican to not hasten away, 
as his services might be further needed. He then 
informed Mrs. Churchill that she was not safe 
in that place, as the distance was but a short one 
for spite to overcome; that at such a residence 
she would be able to hire a buggy and be taken 

182 



NEW MEXICO. 

in to Silverton. With this understanding the 
Mexican was requested to continue with her un- 
til some other conveyance was obtained. The 
Mexican strung up the baggage as quickly as it 
had been undone. The postmaster had heard the 
story from the out-going stage in the early morn- 
ing. If Mrs. Churchill had heard of the threat 
in the morning she would have left that morn- 
ing. By remaining but half a day gave her 
time to run up a subscription list that would 
have done credit to any paper. All was paid in 
advance, and mostly in silver, which added to 
her burden when climbing the long hill. She 
had the names of every one of those low villains. 
One man said he would "be glad to always buy 
her books and take her paper, but that she went 
through the country so boisterously.'' Mrs. 
Churchill is anything but boisterous, either in 
voice or manner. The fellow did not know what 
else to say. She was again in the Mexican sad- 
dle, going to look for a conveyance to take her 
to Silver City. The couple had gone but a short 
distance when they met a large load of wood, 
piled so high they are never expected to turn out. 
Coming from Georgetown was a livery team, 
with two seats and two occupants. Both the liv- 

183 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ery team and the Mexican had driven the fore feet 
of the animals into a stone pile made by road 
improvements. It took a minute for the wood 
load to pass. In the meantime Mrs. Churchill 
asked if they were going to Silverton. The an- 
swer was affirmative. ''Would you take a pas- 
senger?'' was the next question. "Certainly," 
said the gentleman, who was his own driver. 
The Mexican could not have acted quicker if he 
had been master of English. He saw through it 
instantly, alighted and took the baggage off the 
donkey, and by the time Mrs. Churchill was in 
the vehicle the stuff was also in, ready for move- 
ment. She reached for her purse and handed 
him a ten in gold. He only shook his head and 
smiled. Then a ^ye in paper. He would not 
touch either. By this time the livery team be- 
gan to move. She took his outstretched hand, 
and sent every sentence of Spanish at him she 
had ever learned, however inappropriate some of 
the lingo might have been. The Mexican laughed 
and passed out of sight, waving his hand and 
bowing in response to her demonstrations. The 
couple in the conveyance were too much inter- 
ested in one another to give Mrs. Churchill any 
attention, a condition for which she was very 

184 



NEW MEXICO. 

thankful, as there was need of quiet and mental 
repose. At five o'clock the destination was 
reached. She was driven to the boarding house 
where she had made her home while "doing" 
Silverton. That evening she had the adventure 
written up and in the mail for her weekly paper, 
with the names in full of every one connected 
with the tragedy. Mrs. Churchill was once at 
Georgetown since that occurrence. Not one of 
the same inhabitants were to be found. There 
was some kind of a gathering, and the women 
requested her to speak for them, which she did 
to the satisfaction of those in charge. Mrs. 
Churchill was in that section of country when 
Mr. and Mrs. McComas were killed by the 
Apaches. She passed over the same road the 
day before, and dined at the same wayside inn, 
where the little girls were left while the father 
and mother, with little five-year-old Charlie, 
went to visit the mines. Mr. McComas expressed 
reluctance about going, as the Indians were out 
on some religious incantation, and were going a 
peculiar round, and, when they espied a white 
man, expected to kill or be killed. This was 
about the state of affairs when these people were 
caught. 

185 



CHAPTER XVIII. 



An Active Boy. 
A boy at Longmont, Colo., Mrs. Churchill con- 
siders one of the wonders of the world in the 
way of unpremeditated mischief and activity. 
She asked the landlady for the key to the musical 
instrument; the woman said she would be 
obliged to bide her time until she found the key, 
as it had to be hidden from the active boy. At 
length the key was produced, but before Mrs. 
Churchill got the instrument open the boy had 
the stool unscrewed entirely ; while the seat was 
being adjusted the boy was climbing up on the 
organ and had seated himself upon an arrange- 
ment made to hold a light for the performer, 
with his bare feet upon the keys as far as he 
could place them from his position. The boy was 
routed; the next seen of him he was trying to 
rig up something with which to hold a hanging 
lamp in imitation of one in the dining room; he 
had crooked a wire in a good imitation of his 
model, but the apparatus for holding the lamp 
was not at hand; the fellow was patiently trying 

186 



AN ACTIVE BOY. 

to balance the large lamp, which he had lighted, 
when it was taken from him. The next perform- 
ance was in soldering tin; he had his mother's 
tin dishes, more than many a second-hand store 
carries in stock ; these were placed by the kitchen 
stove ; he had a cake of tallow cast in a two-quart 
basin ; this was used for solder, while the heated 
poker answered his purpose as a soldering iron. 
Here he worked an incredibly long time, in fact un- 
til he was obliged to resign his position as mender 
of tin, for the coming meal called for the service 
of the stove. Some one, upon first discovering him, 
remarked to his mother that those tins would 
not get cleaned of that tallow, with which they 
had been soldered, for the life of the present gen- 
eration. The mother said, "Let him work, he is 
doing nothing worse when soldering tin with 
tallow." Mrs. Churchill had taken cold from lay- 
ing off too many garments for warm weather, 
and was obliged to lie in bed the most of the time 
for two days. The boy came to her door ten 
times by count, after it was found impossible to 
keep him from disturbing her. Sleep for several 
hours a day for two days and perfect rest was 
all that was needed to set things to rights. The 
second day he came twenty times by record; 

187 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the room was so located that the patient would 
have been obliged to dress herself entire to in- 
form upon the little busybody. He wanted to 
see her around; said it made him lonesome to 
know that she was in the house and not to be 
seen. The day he had been most annoying, a 
noise as of running water had been heard in the 
adjoining rooms ; upon investigation it was found 
that a faucet had been turned on to wash a little 
wagon and the water left running, because it was 
hard to turn, too much for the boy's strength, so 
he left it to be discovered by the business men 
occupying the rooms below. Mrs. Churchill put 
on a colored wrapper and made her way to the 
landlady's apartment, just in time to encounter 
a business man from below asking with emphasis, 
"What was the matter with the pipes above?" 
The woman hurried to the sink and found the 
little red wagon left, as the owner had fled when 
he discovered that he could not turn the faucet 
to stop the water. When Mrs. Churchill was 
ready to depart, that active boy had managed to 
get cleaned up that he might, with his father, 
stand at the head of the out-leading stairway and 
shake hands and say good-bye, and come and stop 
with us when you are up again. There was a 

188 



AN ACTIVE BOY. 

silent mental resolution. Next time Mrs. Church- 
ill found other quarters, but wishing to hear if 
the active boy was still keeping up his old gait 
she called upon the mother and was informed 
that the child was in the backyard building a fire 
engine. He was at this time about ten years of 
age ; they stepped to the back porch, and saw the 
boy's energy as it had crystallized in mechanics. 
He had made the lower part of his machine out 
of brick — the idea may have been taken from 
some stationary engine — at any rate it had the 
appearance of being at least a good caricature 
upon something run by engineers. There had 
been procured a joint of an old smokestack for a 
boiler; in this capture Mrs. Churchill was deeply 
interested, having in childhood had such terrible 
things to overcome in the way of procuring ma- 
terial for her enterprises in the matter of con- 
struction. When children are building they find 
a very unsympathetic world to deal with as a 
general thing. This boy had a piece of common 
stove pipe which he was trying to engraft in the 
boiler for a smokestack; the whole thing really 
looked like something one sees in a saw mill or 
something of this kind. 



189 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

The boy's activity was only equalled by his 
patience. Without any reasonable chance to do 
a sane and useful thing in the way of develop- 
ment, he would work for hours as if he had been 
inspired from some unseen source. It would be 
interesting to know how he put in his time when 
spending the summer with his grandmother on 
the farm. How could he be kept from diving in 
the first deep water hole he found is a mystery. 
The sages tell us that real genuine genius is more 
the outcome of energy and patience than any 
other quality. This child is certainly a little 
abnormal, but probably not more so than others 
that might be named, who, when mature, aston- 
ished the world with wondrous achievements. 
This boy had all the vanity requisite to great 
things. There used to be housekeepers with more 
energy than sense — the everlasting scrubber ; the 
over-neat woman. Since the better education of 
woman has come to stay this type of woman has 
disappeared almost, if not entirely. The typical 
scold has gone the same way, still the law can 
be found on the statute books from which this 
country gets her primitive code, that permits a 
husband to put her on a ducking board if she 
scolds. All that ailed those poor women was 

190 



AN ACTIVE BOY. 

more energy than mental resource. The law of 
ducking could not work a cure in such a case. 
Another generation had to come to the rescue 
and give the woman of energy a chance for ex- 
pansion. There are of both sexes people who 
have wasted a vast amount of very valuable 
talent and energy for want of the development 
to suit the case. All vegetable and animal life 
have deformities and blights; God's chosen are 
no exception to natural law. He may by virtue 
of being the first or foremost of animal law by op- 
portunity almost reach the dignity of a semi-god, 
or for lack of development become the chatter- 
ing imbecile. After all is not the cake of tallow 
and the hot poker a better imitation of the tin 
mender's efforts than the usual methods of little 
folks. Children's play is only imitation of real 
business life, and the child that makes the best 
imitation certainly is the most gifted. None of 
this child's efforts were so bungling as the mud 
pie manufacturing. Mrs. Churchill made ovens 
that would bake and chimneys that would draw, 
and takes a pride in the memory thereof; they 
were made of red clay and brick and were quite 
artistic. 



191 



CHAPTER XIX. 



Accidents in Colorado, 
first trip to georgetown. 
The first time Mrs. Churchill was at George- 
town, Colorado, she had an unpleasant affair, 
that bore far-reaching effects. It was ten o'clock 
p. m. when the stage reached the interesting lit- 
tle city. The guests were shown to their rooms, 
Mrs. Churchill being left to the last; so it was 
discovered that she was unattended by another. 
She protested against being left to the last one 
located. She was put in room fourteen, upstairs, 
a forbidding looking top floor. At two in the 
morning a couple of men came to the door, pre- 
sumably landlord and clerk. As one confirmed 
what the other said it was known that there were 
two individuals. They stated that they were 
railroad men, and "you have our room," they 
said. "You leave that door instantly or you will 
have a ball put into your carcass, if not more 
than one," was the rejoinder. They answered, 
"Fire away." Mrs. Churchill did not wait for 
the second invitation, but fired three balls into 
the door. As there was no thud she concluded 

192 



ACCIDENTS IN COLORADO. 

the gallant U. S. A. man, woman's protector, had 
stepped aside at the invitation, and sneaked 
noiselessly downstairs after hearing the shots. 
There was no more disturbance that night. In 
the morning, as soon as the clerk was at the 
office to get pay unjustly for a night's lodging, 
Mrs. Churchill took her departure for a private 
boarding house. Here she told her grievance. 
Never thinks it her duty to keep a man's secrets 
for him. This was not her secret. The landlady 
where she had private board was well protected 
herself, as she had a vacation college girl room- 
ing with her, besides an immense dog, which laid 
at her door upon a rug. Besides, she had a big 
six-shooter, which could be introduced to her 
legal protectors if things became dangerous. 
This occurrence was before the great Leadville 
strike, which resulted in giving it the name of 
being the greatest silver camp on earth, or Mrs. 
Churchill would have left for Leadville and 
taken Georgetown on the return trip. As it was 
she remained one night longer, taking a great 
number of subscribers, many of whom took the 
paper every year during their own lifetime from 
this period. The second night of her stay the 
room she occupied was located next to one which 

193 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

opened upon a stairway that led to the street. 
This gave the evil disposed a chance to congre- 
gate in the room at the head of the stairs, where, 
if they could do no worse, could drive a volume 
of smoke from cigars into the room that would 
smother a woodchuck. The rooms were a suite 
of two. There was a door between, well fastened, 
as this was a matter never to be neglected by a 
lady traveler. At about eleven o'clock the seance 
began. Mrs. Churchill knew the only thing to 
be done was to draw her bed to the window. As 
the bed was a cot this favored the situation, so 
that she could lie with head out of the window, 
which gave her an opportunity, in spite of the 
wicked, to get several hours' sleep. Mrs. Church- 
ill had her way of showing the U. S. A. dude 
that he was living in a country that encourages 
men in the worst phases of falsehood and hypoc- 
risy that the human race can know. The next 
day she changed her location, well satisfied with 
her list of patrons. The whole matter was writ- 
ten up and published in her paper. She did not 
have time to do investigating enough to get 
names, or she would at this late date give their 
names for the information of posterity. The 
landlord keeping the American house at that 

194 



ACCIDENTS IN COLORADO. 

time saw Mrs. Churchill six weeks after the epi- 
sode, and told her that he was obliged in that 
time to close the house, as the boarders left. The 
house was never occupied again, although a 
building of thirty or forty rooms. This tragedy 
took place in the latter part of the summer of 
1879. In 1907 the old American house was taken 
down and cremated. Such is the fate of tyrants. 
Most of the animals calling themselves men, who 
had a hand in the affair, have shared the same 
fate, only they may not have been cremated on 
this side, as they were wanted for a crematory 
already established since some time during the 
decline of the Roman Empire. Mrs. Churchill 
went every year to Georgetown, notwithstanding 
the revelation, proving the courage of her con- 
victions that women have the same right to the 
business world that men have, and that she has 
a right to an existence without making a com- 
mercial transaction with a sacred reservation. 
Men have given us our moral code, and assume 
to be the guardians of virtue. They must either 
make good some pretences, or come across a 
Carrie Nation now and then, who will enforce 
laws in the only manner in which women can 
enforce them. 

195 



CHAPTER XX. 



The Boulder Episode. 
Mrs. Churchill was in Boulder county, Colo- 
rado, and making her way to the mines above the 
city. The conveyance was a small mail wagon 
that would carry about four persons comfort- 
ably. The driver's name was Hinman. He had 
the reputation of being the meanest man in the 
county. Mrs. Churchill said, "If this is a fact 
how come he by a federal position?'' Most likely 
has to give bonds for a place of so much respon- 
sibility. It being a cold, bleak route, with no 
great financial inducement, no one cared to take 
the route, so it was let to the meanest man in the 
county. If he perished no one cared. It is sup- 
posed that even the man himself did not care, 
as was subsequently proven. Going up to the 
settlement he made some proposition to Mrs. 
Churchill that she did not answer, as Solomon 
says, "Answer not a fool according to his follies." 
Mrs. Churchill told him at what place she wished 
to stop, as with those people she was acquainted. 
When the stage drove up to the door a matron 

196 



THE BOULDER EPISODE. 

came out and greeted the lady occupant, and fur- 
ther remarked : "We are going to have a lyceum 
meeting to-night, and as an attraction would be 
glad to have you speak for us on your favorite 
topic." Mrs. Churchill is not of sufficient physi- 
cal vigor to make a business of speech making 
and attending to the money-making department 
of running a paper at the same time. In some of 
the mining camps there is a dearth of amuse- 
ments and almost anything is acceptable. Mrs. 
Churchill made the speech and met with her 
usual success. The next day she was returning 
to the city of Boulder, when within a few rods 
of the train she was to take the wagon rolled off 
a bridge that was not protected by stringers. 
Mrs. Churchill fell backwards about thirteen 
feet, striking first upon the top of her head. A 
high-crowned hat saved her neck from being 
broken. The man had taken a bolt from the 
tongue of the wagon, so that the tongue lost con- 
trol of the vehicle. He knew just when to get 
out of the stage himself, and managed the affair 
so much to his advantage that not a strap of his 
was injured. The hind wheels were only over 
the edge of the bridge far enough to throw out 
his only passenger. Women who were camping 

197 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

on the hillside saw the fall and came to see what 
could be done. The villain of this tragedy was 
standing near the insensible victim. One of the 
women asked him if she were dead. Said he: 
"It is a pity but that she were." The women con- 
cluded that the fellow was being revenged on the 
score of a disappointment. Ammonia was put to 
her nostrils, when she raised her head. It was 
found that she was alive. A hand wagon was 
brought, and she was removed to an occupied 
cottage before going to the mining camp. It was 
four hours before she knew the woman who was 
taking care of her. A doctor was summoned 
from Boulder. Mrs. Churchill was found to be 
badly bruised, but had no bones broken and no 
internal injuries. The doctor was discharged 
after the second call, but Mrs. Churchill did not 
lift her head from the pillow, even to move one 
inch, for ten days. In the meantime she had the 
consensus of the opinions of those around her 
who knew the man to be a low rascal, who used 
the same lash upon his wife as upon his horses. 
The women had all the facts to prove that the 
crime was premeditated and viciously executed. 
Mrs. Churchill had the evidence for motive. As 
soon as able to sit up Mrs. Churchill wrote an 

198 



THE BOULDER EPISODE. 

article, stating the particulars and the revenge. 
This was published in her own paper and read 
extensively in that county. It some way came 
about that the fellow lost his job as mail carrier, 
his family cast him off, and he seemed to lose all 
power to save himself from becoming a wander- 
ing vagabond. The tragedy occurred in the lat- 
ter part of summer. That winter he redeemed 
himself by committing suicide. The community 
where he lived felt a sense of relief when he was 
out of the way. Verily, "the way of the trans- 
gressor is hard." 

The great heart of the people like to see fair 
play, whether they are willing to put themselves 
out to get it or not. 



199 



CHAPTER XXI. 



Going Driving — a song. 

Bring up Nancy, brush her coat off, she likes to 

have us so. 
Get the harness, put it on her, do the best you 

know; 
Take the whip out, do not touch her — this is just 

for show. 
Nancy takes us o'er the prairie, through the dust 

and snow. 
To the distant farm house where we wish to go. 
While we gossip, Nancy listens for a friend or 

foe, 
First with one ear, then the other, until we are 

ready to go ; 
Then she puts her ears straight forward, as if to 

show the way, 
And we know that she Is thinking of her home, 

her oats and hay. 



200 



CHAPTEE XXII. 



A KuNAWAY Horse. 

Mrs. Churchill concluded that it was better to 
keep a horse for her express work than to hire an 
expressman at the rate of twelve dollars per 
month. Accordingly she set about to get a horse 
and manage to have it cared for. The South Caro- 
lina printer girl had been on the place for about 
eighteen months, and there was a probability of 
her remaining as long again. This girl was willing 
to buy a horse if Mrs. Churchill would get the fix- 
tures, furnish a stable and pay for the creature's 
feed. The South Carolina girl was a good judge 
of horses and could handle them as well as any 
one, with a reasonable opportunity. Mrs. Church- 
ill was brought up on a place well stocked with 
horses, sheep and cattle. There seemed no good 
reason for not having a horse, as it would save 
half the expense of the express work, and those 
about the office could have the use of the horse for 
driving. There used to be a man about Denver 
who kept a corral. This man had the personal 

201 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

appearance of being closely connected to his Sa- 
tanic Majesty. One could hardly conceive of any- 
thing that could be done to make a meaner look- 
ing creature made in the image of his Creator. 
An expressman brought the horse to the South 
Carolina girl and Mrs. Churchill, a circumstance 
of which they should have been very suspicious, 
but when they learned the place he was dealing 
with, it was too late. The people who had that 
corral had the reputation of picking up the 
women's horses that were pasturing on the com- 
mon, putting them in the corral and selling them 
to country buyers. It would not pay for a man 
to leave his business and hunt the horse, as the 
country had an immense range for market. 
Bringing them to justice by any of the then exist- 
ing legal processes would have called for the out- 
put of a gold mine. Few people have ever been 
able to protect themselves by legal methods in 
this country of the people, by the people and for 
the people. The horse was found to be perfectly 
fearless of anything in a railroad centre; was 
handsome and gentle to handle, but had the run- 
away habit established before she was sold to this 
printing establishment. Two of the printer young 
ladies were taking off the harness, when she con- 

202 



A RUNAWAY HOESE. 

ceived the idea that as she had lost the oppor- 
tunity while being driven, she would avail herself 
of that privilege while being unharnessed. This 
for horse wickedness was without a parallel in 
the experience of those office incumbents. Mrs. 
Churchill was the next one to be victimized by 
the runaway habit and was picked up uncon- 
scious, the buggy strung all over the country. 
After Mrs. Churchill's recovery she went out on a 
canvassing trip and was gone a month. Upon 
her return she learned of the remarkable exploits 
of this piece of horse flesh. The South Carolina 
printer girl, who was an expert horsewoman, was 
the next victim, being obliged to keep her bed for 
three weeks and hire her printing done. She 
would not permit any one to notify Mrs. Churchill 
of what had taken place, for fear Mrs. Churchill 
would come home, as the bills of the establish- 
ment had begun to fail of payment because of the 
loss of time on account of these accidents. On 
Mrs. Churchill's return the matter was talked 
over, and a conclusion reached that the only thing 
to be done was to sell the "naughty beast" that 
did not know enough to appreciate being a print- 
ers' pet. She was sold at a reduced price, but 
as both parties had suffered about in equal pro- 

203 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

portion in the way of financial loss, the matter 
was adjusted without ill feeling between the part- 
ners in this transaction. The old method of car- 
rying the paper had to be resorted to, but the old 
employes were not called into service again. A 
new outfit was employed. 



204 



CHAPTER XXIII. 



A Railroad Disaster. 
Mrs. Churchill had one railroad disaster 
the same year, and altogether it was a dis- 
astrous period, from which she did not in 
many years recover, either physically or finan- 
cially. The railroad accident was the only 
one she has experienced in forty years of 
travel. Her record was so good in escaping 
calamities of this character that she was known 
as a railroad mascot. Years ago she was going 
over Marshall Pass. The train stopped as usual 
upon the summit, under the snow sheds. When 
the train began to move again it was discovered 
by the passengers accustomed to the Pass that 
the speed was too great. The passengers com- 
mented, and clung to the arms of the seats. The 
train had a moment of running upon the ties, 
then ran into the snow sheds, upsetting two or 
three coaches. The day coach in which Mrs. 
Churchill was seated was not upset, only had the 
steps torn completely off by the coach in front 

205 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

upsetting. This incident had the further effect 
of confirming the mascot business. The train 
had an emigrant car, which was turned upon the 
side, the window broken, so that the snow and 
mud from the snow sheds, the accumulation of 
years, came upon the unfortunate, terror-stricken 
occupants. One at a time they cleared themselves 
as far as possible of the appearances of disaster, 
and came into the upright coach. There were 
among the victims a man and wife, the man a 
giant in stature and size, the woman an average 
sized female. They were Swedes, but spoke Eng- 
lish very well, were comfortably dressed and re- 
spectable in appearance. The woman was sob- 
bing when they came in the upright coach. Said 
she through her sobs, "They always put the emi- 
grant coach in the very worst place." The hus- 
band had a scalp wound, neither knew how seri- 
ous it might be, and both were suffering, as all 
the passengers were, from the strain of a terrible 
fright. The couple seated themselves and the 
woman began combing the man's hair in order to 
get the clay and dirt out, so as to know how 
badly he might be injured. It was soon known 
that his scalp wound was not at all serious, and 
the couple became calm, pursuing the work of 

206 



A RAILROAD DISASTER. 

clearing their heads of dirt. After the man had 
been made presentable he arose to his feet, un- 
jbraided the woman's long strands of very dark 
brown hair, combed and brushed them with as 
much delicate tact as if he were a professional 
ladies' hairdresser. His immense size seemed to 
have the effect of making the scene a particularly 
pathetic one. There was a tenderness displayed 
while restoring the braids with those immense 
fingers that left few dry eyes that witnessed this 
scene. These accidents all came about the same 
year. It seems as if the world was put up on a 
trouble plane. If one is having anything like 
fair sailing weather some one will "sit up and 
take notice," and if it is possible, spring a trouble 
trap of one nature if not another. Mrs. Churchill 
was once at Cripple Creek. She had got through 
the place and its abounding suburbs. The ex- 
pressmen were sought; one was engaged, prom- 
ising to be on time at the required hour. It oc- 
curred to Mrs. Churchill that she had seen that 
face before, and that he gave her an amused, 
quizzical look. The time came, but no expressman. 
All at once her wits were sharpened, she remem- 
bered the fellow; that he had been employed to 
do the express work on the paper at Denver and 

207 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

had been dismissed for tippling. In the multi- 
tude of faces seen by Mrs. Churchill every year 
it was quite impossible to remember even an 
enemy. This fellow had disappointed once be- 
fore, when it was not known who had been called. 
It will not do to trust an irresponsible person 
with the forms of printed matter. "No drunkard 
need apply," was the motto of the office. 



20ii 



CHAPTER XXIV. 



A Retreating Campaign. 
When Mrs. Churchill first came to Denver it 
was expected that she would call upon the lead- 
ing women and get their permission to publish a 
Woman's Right paper, show her credentials and 
so forth, join some association, so as to be in a po- 
sition to be brought to time, if audacious enough 
to criticise the established customs, or to do any- 
thing really original. Mrs. Churchill remained 
in Denver long enough to know that the climate 
was just what she needed; the rest might, with 
properly directed energy, be forthcoming. For 
several years she had been traveling; and a per- 
son conducting a retreating campaign would not 
be likely to have many acquaintances who could 
give letters to strangers as to her worth. There 
was a humiliation in the very idea that such a 
course was necessary. She came, she saw and 
conquered. No doubt it was not exactly the best 
thing she could have done, but she had in memory 
a time when a man was permitted to introduce 

209 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

her to an audience. It seemed to make jeal- 
ousies. It seemed to her as if every man in the 
audience thought he owned the speaker, and was 
the only owner. It was the last time any man 
ever had the opportunity. If Mrs. Churchill had 
presented herself in her working apparel to even 
the leading suffragists of Denver no explanation 
would have been equal to a personal appearance, 
above reproach. Mrs. Churchill is naturally defect- 
ive in style; has a mind which runs upon other 
things. This is no crime, nor is it a crime for a 
woman or a man to like a fine personal appear- 
ance. Cruel, foolish criticism is where the crime 
is to be found. 

A WOMAN^S CONVENTION. 

The original Woman's Suffrage society was 
very much in debt. It had been badly man- 
aged, and had not been doing any effectual 
work for a couple or three years. In 1876 this 
society had probably done its very best, as the 
question was voted upon that year, as the terri- 
tory was admitted to statehood at that time. The 
result was a losing one by six thousand majority. 
The Mexican element are accredited with this 
failure. It would not be a matter of surprise 

210 



A RETREATING CAMPAIGN. 

after this outcome if the society should become 
somewhat apathetic. Mrs. Churchill, with the help 
of some of the women from outside towns, called 
a convention. The city women, perhaps troubled 
because of their laurels, came in and were at 
once installed in the offices, thus giving experi- 
enced people a chance to at least make themselves 
useful as well as ornamental. Mrs. Churchill 
steadfastly refused office, as the conducting of a 
paper in the interests of the cause was enough 
for any one head. 

The convention adjourned with the best of 
feeling. The men's papers made all the cap- 
ital they possibly could out of the fact that 
Mrs. Churchill was not given office, assum- 
ing that the honor of such a position would 
have been irresistible to any mortal woman 
with healthy ambition. Mrs. Churchill seems 
to have been created superior to such a thing 
as personal aggrandizement. What she wants 
is a civilization that will come somewhere 
near filling the wants of the great mass of the 
people. Federal control of schools ; that general 
illiteracy from any cause may disappear from the 
world. The idea of holding children responsible 
for the bad management of those interested in 

211 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ignorance and depravity, and those gone be- 
fore, is repugnant to any fair-minded person. If 
women could be induced to perform their public 
duties, which would be to become a helpmeet for 
man in public affairs as in private matters, many 
things could be done that are now wholly neg- 
lected. The minds of such men as Chaucer and 
Euskin have given this subject attention and 
have concluded that man will only cease being a 
marauder and a warrior when women do enough 
to teach them that there is nothing in the course 
usually pursued by the masculine portion of the 
human family. We now have rapid transporta- 
tion, which will furnish sufficient opportunity 
for crossing races without resorting to war, which 
simply means death to the other male and addi- 
tional number of female slaves in the market. 

DEVELOPMENT OF WOMAN SUFFRAGE IN COLORADO. 

In 1893 the Populist party came into power in 
the state of Colorado. This is the party that voted 
on woman's citizenship and gave her a majority 
vote of six thousand. Mrs. Churchill's papers had 
been published for the period of fourteen years. 
During these years Idaho's legislature granted 
woman citizenship, and the right of a citizen was 

212 



A RETREATING CAMPAIGN. 

bestowed upon the women of Utah by a constitu- 
tional provision. Mrs. Churchill's papers were 
extensively read in all those localities. Women 
should be in the councils of every municipality in 
the United States. Men do not know all there is to 
be known and put into execution for the welfare 
of the race. Women can be educated to fill posi- 
tions with a fearless care for right, ignoring the 
personal ambition phase of the position. When 
we have a higher standard of general intelligence 
this is what will likely come to pass. 

Mrs. Churchill was never popular with the W.C. 
T. U., because popularity was not what she was 
looking for. A better condition of things was her 
watchword. Her methods were her own. She 
never tried to persecute any organization, or be- 
little them, because their methods were different 
from her own. One of the Anthony family, living 
at Leavenworth, Kas., once wrote to have Mrs. 
Churchill get interested in his business. Mrs. 
Churchill was fairly harassed by these impor- 
tunities from different sources, and answered 
these letters rather saucily sometimes. Susan B. 
Anthony perhaps realized that there was younger 
blood in the field and may have thought her 
laurels in danger. When the brother failed to 

213 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

interest the new woman in his schemes, she had 
no further use for Mrs. Churchill and would show 
her resentment as opportunity made it possible. 
Lucy Stone exchanged papers with Mrs. Churchill 
for fourteen years, but in all that time never had 
a good word for Mrs. Churchill or her work. 
Mrs. Churchill thought the question for which 
she was giving her life work of more importance 
than self-aggrandizement. It has ever seemed to 
her most queer that women or men either could 
be so easily set up and so much more in love 
with themselves than the cause they represent. 
Society in general do not like originality, espe- 
cially in woman, as it looks like defying man's 
authority for a woman to prefer her own methods 
to accepting those laid down for the majority. 
Ministers have been known to ridicule women 
from their pulpits because all went jumping over 
the fence with the crowd and even keeping up the 
imitating process after the bar had been re- 
moved. Men have ever been a guilty quantity 
for ridiculing women for being whatever men de- 
sired them to be and had striven to make them. 
The story of the poor colored people, who wonder 
why they are made the subject of belittling 
jokes is appropriate here. What have they ever 

214 



A RETREATING CAMPAIGN. 

done to make us superior to jumping over the 
same fence, even after the last rail is removed. 
Woman has been systematically educated to 
spend her conversational ability upon the most 
frivolous topics. This has the effect to belittle her 
range of thought so that she can comprehend 
only superficialities. The popular colleges of the 
United States are turning out more educated peo- 
ple with less originality and fewer geniuses than 
any other country. 

LICENSED ROWDYISM. 

It is difficult to explain why college boys and 
girls should be upheld in displaying the most 
flagrant rowdyism. Any other class of the com- 
munity who were disturbing the peace of the 
community in a similar manner would be called 
to order by the police force if there were no 
other methods. This may be a popular phase 
of defiant vanity; if so, it is vulgar enough to 
meet with explanation of motive and the reproof 
of authority. 



215 



CHAPTER XXV. 



The Song of "Sarah Jane'^ Hen. 

I had a lovely dappled hen, 
I could not trace her stock, 

But by the speckles in her dress 
Should think her Plymouth Rock. 

Be what she may in ancestry, 
It would be hard to find again 

Hen with so many winning ways, 
We call her Sarah Jane. 

She meets me at the garden gate 

In sunshine and in rain. 
To ask about the kind of scraps 

I have for Sarah Jane. 

This is the only hen around 
That looks to chances main ; 

This diplomatic turn of mind 
Belongs to Sarah Jane. 



216 



THE SONG OF ''SARAH JANE^^ HEN. 

When sick and almost unto death 

She sang her old refrain; 
When held for a dose of kerosene 

My patient Sarah Jane. 

Her comb is pale, her eyes are dim, 
But still she takes her grain. 

I'll try to keep my courage up 
In hope for Sarah Jane. 

If I should chance to lose this hen, 
Should feel that life is vain, 

As far as chickens are concerned. 
So much for Sarah Jane. 

LATER. 

My hen has passed from life to death, 
From affection, joy or pain. 

But Martin Farquer Tupper 
Gives me hopes for Sarah Jane. 

In his philosophy he says 

If man shall rise again 
His dog is entitled to this life. 

Then why not Sarah Jane. 



217 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

The pathos of the thing is this : 

She sang her old refrain, 
From weakness she could scarcely stand, 

My lovely Sarah Jane. 

And when I am dead and gone to heaven 

To walk the golden plane 
I am sure I would like to meet this pet. 

My singing Sarah Jane. 

I laid her body in the earth. 

But upon the cheek a stain 
Proved plainly that a tear had dropped 

In love for Sarah Jane. 



218 



CHAPTER XXVI. 



The Soafweed Man. 

A SONG. 

His beard may glow with sunlight, 

His eyes reflect the blue, 
Hair like the tangled soapweed, 

Toes coming through his shoes. 

He will eat upon the doorstep 
Of one who gives her mite, 

And it never once to him occurs. 
But that this act is white. 

This man sprang from the soapweed. 
While the Indian, in his lair. 

May have come from Ursa Major, 
Or the little black tamarack bear. 

The two are men for a' that, 
Their right must in the main 

Be dear to every mother. 

Though they sleep upon the plain. 

Despise, then, not thy brother, 
Although a soapweed man. 

For is not the very soapweed 
A part of the heavenly plan? 

219 



CHAPTER XXVII. 



The Difference. 

A SONG. 

Woman sings the lullaby, 
Man the serenade; 
Man writes the music for the race 
And wears the gay cockade. 

For virtues that are quiet, 
Woman holds the sway; 
For noise, for strife, for riot, 
Great man should keep the day. 

The two it takes to make a whole 
In nature's wondrous plan. 
And counsel without a woman's soul 
Proves the poorest works of man. 

Thus all nature's difference 
Proves all nature's tact. 
And shallow is the mental grade 
That denies this natural fact. 



220 



CHAPTER XXVIII. 



A Trip Up the Red River. 
Mrs. Churchill was in New Orleans and wanted 
to go up the river to Shreveport, from thence to 
Texas. The first thing to be done was to find a 
captain of a river boat who was a gentleman. 
This came about satisfactorily ; the captain proved 
to be worthy the name in every respect. There 
were several gentlemen on board who had been 
to New Orleans and were returning home. All 
were sociable and very agreeable. Mrs. Churchill 
had a new Moody and Sankey song book and was 
singing the familiar old tunes with any lady 
who could sing with her. The crew were colored 
men, and musicians, forming a band, whenever 
there was a call for music. Sabbath day was 
to be spent on the boat. The gentlemen planters 
suggested that Mrs. Churchill give a discourse 
upon the subject of woman's condition as a per- 
son not having the power to legislate in her own 
defense, or in that of hers of either sex. Mrs. 
Churchill happened to have with her the cele- 
brated discourse delivered by the Rev. Samuel 

221 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

May some time in the early forties, at Rochester, 
N. Y. This sermon was printed and extensively 
circulated, much of the information therein tak- 
ing root and bearing fruit for a better state of 
things for the women of the U. S. of A. Mrs. 
Churchill consented, and in casting about for 
something resembling a pulpit on deck consulted 
an intelligent colored man, one of the boat's crew, 
who proved equal to the emergency. Sabbath 
morning, just before time for the service, a pile 
of sieves were placed one upon another until the 
required height was reached, then a cake board 
brought and laid across the top sieve and a white 
towel obscured the top entirely. To use a popu- 
lar phrase, "this was all right." The sieves were 
of the variety used by farmers in winnowing 
grain. Perhaps by this time obsolete; at that 
time in course of transportation for the farmers' 
needs. Big, heavy dining room chairs were 
brought and placed in a ring around the neat 
little deck. There were about a dozen in their 
seats. The thirteenth was a big Louisianian, who 
cared nothing for the subject to be treated, but 
had a prejudice against women in so public a 
place as the pulpit of whatever it might be con- 
structed. This man was not very tall but would 

222 



A TRIP UP RED RIVER. 

weigh over two hundred pounds, and had a large 
swelling on the front of his neck, a chronic dis- 
ease of the glands. Mrs. Churchill noticed that the 
seat placed for him was vacant. He stood near 
but looked out over the water, evidently inter- 
ested in the scenery, but intending to hear every- 
thing said while giving vent to his prejudices at 
the same time. "Killing two birds with a stone." 
Mrs. Churchill well understood the gentle nature 
of the Southern man, so walked up to this stub- 
born sheep, took him by the arm and said in a 
sweet, low voice, "Brother, come and sit with us, 
please ; here is a seat prepared for you before the 
foundations of the earth were laid.'' He smiled, 
had been smiling since first approached. Slowly 
he came, but obediently took the vacant chair 
and respectfully listened. The sermon was well 
delivered, as Mrs. Churchill is a born reader, 
and her voice finely cultivated for reading. The 
band helped with the music, and the entertain- 
ment lasting a little over an hour was pro- 
nounced a success. After dinner the gentlemen 
amused themselves shooting alligators that lay 
like logs of wood along the banks of the river. 
At length Shreveport was reached. The planks 
were placed, people were leaving the boat. The 

223 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

fat passenger was now determined to assert him- 
self, as he knew it would not answer on the boat. 
He broke forth in a stream of profanity, sup- 
posed to be at the colored boys employed in un- 
loading the cargo. Those who understood looked 
at Mrs. Churchill with a knowing smile and 
passed on. 

The captain gave the passengers some good 
anecdotes about Ben Butler and the reconstruc- 
tion period, and enlightened as far as was then 
known about the yellow fever. Many topics were 
intelligently discussed that were of a local char- 
acter, but highly interesting to one looking for 
information. 

The poet Churchill, whom Lord Byron so 
much admired (that is, his works), says: 

Among the sons of men. 

How few are known 
Who dare be just to merits 

Not their own. 

Superior virtue, and superior sense. 
To knaves and fools, will always give offense; 
Nay, even real worth can scarcely bear. 
So nice is jealously, a rival there. 



224 



OHiy?TER XXIX. 



Ode to the Fleetness of the Summer Months. 

Oh, Summer Months! why off so soon? 

The storms do beat, the boughs do sigh, 
In dread of autumn's chilling moan 

And winter's dreary sky. 

Oh, Summer Months ! thou didst in haste 

The honeymoon forswear. 
And leave us to the wint'ry waste 

Of frosty, biting air. 

Oh, Summer Months ! how couldst 

To other lands repair. 
And leave a child but three months old 

In winter's high-armed chair. 

Oh, Summer Months ! have you no ^'hart" 

That panteth after brooks? 
Which now are frozen solid ice. 

You might liquidate with looks. 

Oh, Summer Months ! but what is the use 

Of finding fault with Fate; 
You had to leave us when you did. 

Or for others be too late. 

225 



CHAPTER XXX. 



Plaint of the Rejected Mirror. 

Must I ever stand in this vacant hall 
And reflect the shadows that pass, 

Because my frame is a span too tall 
For the niche for the parlor glass? 



.V 



My proportions are fine "to perfection ; 

My frame is of maple that curls; 
I am faithful in every reflection 

Of fair guests — or serving girls! 

And it is hard to be thus rejected 

From the place where I rightly belong; 

To stand in the hall so neglected, 

And the time seems so weary and long. 

We e'er please the youthful and fair ; 

We undeceive plain folks and old ; 
And of censure receive we our share, 

As the facts we so plainly unfold. 

I certainly have a mission, 

A story of truth to be told ; 
Then move me from a useless position. 

Though a slave in the mart to be sold ! 

226 



PLAINT OF THE REJECTED MIRROR. 

For better a slave that is doing, 

Keceiving and giving again, 
Than to stand here no mission pursuing. 

Merely seen and admired of men. 



Texas. 

What in Texas most doth vex us 
Is the broken pane; 
Death may come in at a window 
When there is nothing nigh to hinder. 
Even through a broken pane. 



227 



CHAPTER XXXI. 



The Clothes Pin World. 

In a lot of fifty clothes pins, 

Suspended from a nail, 
A pretty little pinkish pin 

Did her fate bewail. 

There chanced to be a reddish stripe 
A-running through the wood 

Of which the fiftieth pin was made, 
So she blushed beneath her hood. 

There is music in the clothes pins 
When they are made to rattle. 

The pinkish pin talked on the same ; 
It may have been but prattle. 

"If a clothes pin should aspire 
To a telegraphic wire, 

Or any higher line, 
There is a rumpus 
In the basket. 

And every one would ask it 
For an explanation 

To the other forty-nine." 

228 



THE CLOTHES PIN WORLD. 

A rusty old pin, nearly split in two, 

Gave as his opinion : 
^^This will never do. 
This little pinkish pin. 

That is underneath a hood. 
Forgets that her heart 

Is only made of wood ; 
That such a burning desire 
To reach something higher 

Might be the means 
Of setting things on fire." 

He continues: 
"Who would not be a clothes pin 

And sit upon a line, 
With the same size of head 
And exactly the spread 

Of the other forty-nine? 

No, forty-eight; 
I would be a clothes pin, 

With a path I can define. 
And hold down the fluttering things 

That are placed upon a line. 
With arms securely pinioned. 

(One would think a sorry plight.) 
Not so ; we do not hold the lines. 

And our feet are out of sight." 

229 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

At length the fiftieth clothes pin said 

To the other clothes pins fair : 
^^The higher up we get 
The better is the air." 

Continues, grumbling: 
^^If, when dancing on the line, 

One should chance to stand awry, 
One must explain to forty-nine. 
Or they pine away and die. 

"It may be a button or a seam, 
Or any other cause, 
That would throw a figure out of line. 
And the clothes pin world will pause. 

"While the wry is cogitating 

In her little wooden head. 
The cruel winds come howling down 

And try her powers of spread. 
What the cyclone fails to do 

May a careless hand complete. 
And a clothes pin, split in two. 

Is lying at our feet." 

And forty-nine stand on the line. 
All trembling in surprise 



280 



THE CLOTHES PIN WORLD. 

That one within the clothes pin world 
Should so aspire to rise. 

Fifty clothes pins were in a basket sprawled. 

They squirmed and rattled into place 
Until a halt was called. 

The hair would have been worn from Pinkey, 
But she was already bald. 

A hand appeared upon the scene 

And took the basket down. 
The fiftieth pin was chosen 

To wear a hood and gown. 

Because of her pink complexion 

This pin received a call 
To take a place among the toys 

That grace a parlor wall. 

The rest were much disgruntled, 

But continued on their way, 
To play and dance upon the line 

With every washing day. 



231 



OHAPTEK XXXII. 



Strawberrying. 

(Copied from "Over the Purple Hills,") 
The queen of all berries seems to be fraught 
with misfortune for me; perhaps it would have 
been different had I been a June bird, instead of 
a snow bird ; the frosty, dark December being my 
natal month. Be that as it may, I have had a 
serious experience in my efforts to obtain straw- 
berries all through life, and the evil genius con- 
tinues to pursue me, as it does some persons in 
love matters. When a child I remember being in 
a meadow in quest of the small variety of wild 
fruit, and after filling my basket and starting for 
home, of missing my calculations and falling 
backwards into a deep-seated, contemptibly nar- 
row little rivulet. My berries were upset in the 
water and lost, and I went home in a frightful 
plight, and to crown my distress some distin- 
guished little people were waiting to see me. The 
inconvenience of making a presentable toilet with 
the amount of skulking to be done under the cir- 
cumstances was something fearful to undergo at 
the time, and painful to contemplate even at this 
distant day. 

232 



STRAWBERRY ING. 

Upon another occasion, not having the fear of 
man nor his laws before my eyes, I trespassed 
upon the property of a hermit bachelor. This 
wretched old fossil was the terror of the village, 
especially among women and children; and this 
act of mine goes far towards proving a disposi- 
tion prone to daring adventure, if not foolharcli- 
ness, in early life, for there was not a grown 
woman in the neighborhood who would have ven- 
tured to cross his estate, and I should never have 
thought of looking for berries upon the giant's 
causeway if it had not been at his own suggestion. 
The old fellow met a flock of children in the lane 
and took it upon himself to threaten any one who 
should go into his fields in search of strawberries. 
I thought the matter over, and came to the con- 
clusion that there must be something in those 
meads worth looking after, or the man would not 
have taken so much pains as to threaten the chil- 
dren that were in ignorance of the fact. I pro- 
cured a basket and stole away, reached the for- 
bidden ground and filled the little receptacle, 
which held about a quart. The everlasting pink 
sunbonnet which was worn in those days so ob- 
scured my sight or range of vision that the crazy 
old barbarian might have alighted upon me at 

233 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

any time and carried me off to his dark, dismal 
bachelor's den, all covered with blood and bones, 
and there he might have buried your humble serv- 
ant, basket and all, beneath the rickety floor, and 
no one would have known but a black bear had 
carried her off, as they were in the habit of doing 
with wicked children in olden times. The old 
fellow was on hand in time to spoil my picnic, 
however, although perhaps he had no idea of be- 
coming the chief actor in an infant tragedy . Well, 
when I was ready to go home, and in fact in the 
act of scaling the stake and rider fence, the giant 
came and caught me by the foot. The bothering 
sunbonnet was to blame for all this. I might 
have escaped without this encounter had there 
been a fair range of vision. He brought me to 
the ground, took my basket of berries and poured 
them into his smoky old hat, and then tried his 
best to make his little black dog bite me. The 
dog was a harmless, stupid cur, and was so de- 
lighted to see a child upon the premises that he 
wagged his tail and looked pleased in spite of the 
dreadful situation. The old man had been watch- 
ing, likely, from the time I came into the field, 
and had kept the dog in the house, having made 
]ip his mind to confiscate the contraband fruit; 

234 



STRAWBERRYING. 

if the dog barked it would be likely to interfere 
with his plans. I was frightened nearly to death, 
and climbed the fence in the greatest possible 
haste, holding the empty basket upon my arm. 
I had no apologies to make, only threatened the 
hermit with my two big half brothers, who would 
have thrashed him within an inch of his life had 
they ever known anything of the affair. It would 
not have mattered about the trespass ; the berries 
were wild and not considered as sacred as if he 
had planted and hoed them; besides, my kind- 
hearted brothers did not give the man the credit 
for having sufficient poetry in his soul to appre- 
ciate a strawberry patch, and his uncalled for 
threats in the lane were enough to arouse the 
curiosity of any enterprising youth. I know now 
that my brothers were such treasures as rarely 
fall to the lot of the second family of chil- 
dren, and I worshiped them both as towers of 
strength and masculine tenderness ; and for fear 
of getting them in trouble that might end by hav- 
ing them go to jail (the terror of an unsophisti- 
cated child), with the instinct of a woman, I 
never told of my adventure with the hermit 
bachelor. The old fellow comprehended the sit- 
uation and knew about how to manage the affair. 

235 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

The loss of the berries was a small item in this 
adventure ; getting away alive was the important 
part. Upon another occasion, and while still a 
youth, I had been appointed teacher for a class 
in Sabbath school, and when returning from de- 
votional service one Sunday afternoon in the 
balmy month of June, planned an excursion with 
one of my pupils — by the way, a girl taller than 
mj^self, — and of course she should have known 
better, but neither of us had the grace to with- 
stand the green fields, the fragrant air and the 
rii)ening strawberry patch. She, poor girl, child 
like, went in full dress ; my wardrobe was never 
very elaborate, owing to constitutional indiffer- 
ence to such things. We tarried late, got wet by 
a passing shower, she lost a valuable piece of 
jewelry, and both were severely reprimanded for 
our losses and desecration of the Sabbath; so 
much for the forbidden fruit. Perhaps it was 
strawberries that Eve divided with Adam; I 
should not wonder. I went strawberrying in the 
great Yosemite valley ; the same evil genius fol- 
lowed ; the effort made me very ill ; unsympathiz- 
ing tourists devoured my hard-earned fruit, when 
I was too sick to look after worldly matters ; and 
this brings us down to the present period, as a 

236 



STRAWBERRYING. 

Second Advent preacher would say. Not long 
•since, a woman living in the town of Greeley 
(that place is peculiar for feminine assertion) 
sent me a basket of strawberries, at the same time 
addressed me a note stating all the particulars, 
and how I should proceed to fill my part in the 
program ; go to the express office at such an hour. 
The day dragged slowly away ; I wrote strawber- 
ries on half a dozen pieces of blank paper lying 
about the office, and thought of nothing else for 
the whole day ; at seven o'clock I chased off to all 
the express offices in town, going to the wrong 
ones first, and the right one last, but to learn that 
the train was late. I was not so sure but that 
I was early. A friend came in at evening, and 
I related the story of my prospects and he volun- 
teered to look up the berries if they were in town ; 
he went and was told that nothing was delivered 
from this office after seven o'clock p. m. He re- 
turned and reported, but promised to attend to it 
by seven next morning. I waited in fearful sus- 
pense; the berries were now twenty-four hours 
picked, were considered perishable, and what was 
best of all, were a tribute of esteem from an in- 
dulgent friend, and I felt more anxious than the 
value of the berries from a sordid standpoint 

237 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

would warrant. I toiled on until nine o'clock; 
the berries came not, neither did my friend. I 
could stand it no longer, hastened to his office 
and demanded an explanation; he had exerted 
himself to such an extent in my behalf that he 
was completely exhausted, and I found him re- 
clining for a rest; he declared that his efforts at 
seven o'clock a. m. had availed him nothing, as 
the office would not open until nine. I was des- 
perate. Said I, ^^Let's go and blow up that ex- 
press office with giant powder, nitroglycerine, or 
any combustible. What is the use of such an ex- 
press office as that? A laboring man who had a 
day's work to perform could not avail himself of 
this institution any more than he could of the 
money order department of the post office, unless 
he lose a half day. I was desperate ; two quarts 
of strawberries were at stake, and I felt like 
denouncing Denver as a place too high-toned, 
lazy and fashionable for a place of residence for 
any class except landlords, gamblers, and persons 
so situated as to make no especial effort to obtain 
a livelihood. I went forth determined to give up 
the chase, but some way in my business rounds 
came to the express office once more, and was 
there informed that no such package had come, 

238 



STRAWBERRYING. 

or it would have been delivered ; that in all prob- 
ability my friend had failed in getting them 
shipped as she expected. I gave them up again, 
but in the course of the morning found myself 
at the depot where the express matter is first 
placed after being unloaded from the cars; was 
there informed the same; no such package. At 
last, and as I was about to give it up for the third 
time, an employe said he had an idea that he had 
a vague recollection that there was a package of 
this kind sent out in the wagon a few moments 
before. I thought perhaps they would reach my 
office by the time I reached it at noon; sure 
enough, they came, first to the office of my friend, 
who had been out doing his level best for that two 
quarts of berries, and true to his trust had 
brought them to my office. But the end is not 
yet : I came home, hulled the berries, gave my 
friend a dish, and prepared some with sugar for 
myself. Just then a bore came in, and as I had 
to write a letter acknowledging the berries be- 
fore the next mail went out, it was three o'clock 
before I was at liberty to taste those precious ber- 
ries; by this time I had suffered twenty-four 
hours' dreadful suspense, undergone unusual 
physical exertion, and the berries were thirty-six 
hours old. 239 



CHAPTER XXXIII. 



The Spotted Pony. 

In the latter part of the fifties there was a 
very wet summer in Minnesota, so much so that 
the crops were nearly ruined, and travel almost 
entirely suspended because of high water. In 
many instances the primitive bridges were car- 
ried down the streams, leaving no escape for the 
wayfarer unless there should be a rowboat or 
raft that might come to the rescue. The country 
was new and hardships confronted the settlers 
at every turn. Mrs. Churchill's men folks were 
many miles from home securing food for the 
coming fall and winter, as it was evident the 
scanty crop would be insufficient. One night 
after retiring a cry came from the Blue Earth 
river bridge, a flimsy structure liable to be car- 
ried away by the rising waters at any moment. 
She knew that some one was in serious trouble 
and that she was the only person that could hear 
the cry for help, owing to the location. Mrs. 
Churchill arose as soon as the first shout reached 
her ears, put on a heavy flannel wrapper, drew on 

240 



THE SPOTTED PONY. 

a pair of cloth gaiters with rubbers at the side 
{ obsolete now ) , and with her lighted lantern has- 
tened to the wood pile, secured an axe and made 
her way to the bridge, not however, without slip- 
ping a couple of times, as the path leading down 
the hill to the bridge lay in a bed of clay, when wet 
about as slippery as anything could well be. The 
distressed party could, from his position, see that 
preparations were being made for his relief, and 
waited in breathless anxiety. When the bridge 
was reached she found a man there holding a 
horse by the bit. The animal's hind feet were 
fettered between a couple of planks, loosened and 
raised by the water, yet bound by a couple of 
wooden pins, which held them to the stringers. 
Mrs. Churchill took the bit while the man pried 
up the plank and released the horse, so that he 
could regain his footing. If the man had gone ten 
feet further he and his horse must both have been 
lost, as the other end of the bridge had gone out, 
and the current was very powerful. The accident 
was all that saved both man and beast. The per- 
son in trouble spoke little English and that was 
very broken. Mrs. Churchill led the way to her 
home and showed the man where a comfortable 
stable would shelter the horse, a diminutive little 

241 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

creature. The man was of small stature ; hair and 
eyes very black. The weather was cool and the 
man very wet from going through sloughs on his 
journey. Mrs. Churchill with two children roomed 
upstairs. There was a bedroom below. The fire 
was renewed and, although late, a cup of coffee 
prepared with some supper, as it was altogether 
probable the man was making his way to the 
town on the other side of the river to spend the 
night before going further on his journey when 
the disaster overtook him, and left him literally 
"out in the cold." In the morning Mrs. Churchill 
looked out of a gable window toward the stable 
and saw the man lead forth the little brown 
mare of the bridge episode, and at her side a 
beautiful little spotted bay and white colt, 
which the stork had left during the night. The 
mare was watered and fed and the man made 
to understand that he had better have break- 
fast before going. Mrs. Churchill says the 
"Silent Man" would have been a good name 
for this individual, as it was not possible 
to get him to say where he was going or whence 
he came. He seemed to be dazed, perhaps 
lost, or troubled about getting on with what 
he had undertaken. His clothing was so wet 

242 



THE SPOTTED PONY. 

the night before that it would have been quite 
impossible to sleep in them. Before going to 
bed he had been furnished with dry clothing. 
He had donned his own apparel and shown 
sufficient intelligence to place them near the 
big stove to dry. He took breakfast and 
without a word disappeared, leaving the little 
^'beasties" to the great delight of the children, 
who did not care much if the silent man should 
not return. He came again at the expiration of 
three months and took the little mother, but left 
the colt, likely for expenses. Mrs. Churchill 
says now that she thinks the silent man may 
have been a halfbreed Indian, as they are the 
most silent people known, and very sensitive 
about many things. The mother mare was Cana- 
dian and Shetland stock. The colt had an 
Arabian strain and was very interesting. It was 
fed, petted and curried until it was three years 
old, then found its way into a show company. 
The Indian wars scattered the settlement and 
made it necessary to dispose of everything but 
a scanty wardrobe and leave the country for 
more peaceful parts. 



243 



CHAPTER XXXIV. 



Monte Diablo. 

(Copied from "Over the Purple Hills.") 

Monte Diablo is the name of a prominence 
three thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight feet 
above the level of the sea. This point occurs 
about twenty-eight miles from San Francisco, 
and is the terminus of one spur of the coast 
range. There are many higher points upon the 
coast than Monte Diablo, but from its peculiar 
position it gives one of the most extensive land- 
scape views in the known world. The eye has a 
range from Lassen's Peak in the north to Whit- 
ney's in the south, a distance of three hundred 
and twenty-five miles, giving an area as large as 
the whole state of New York. The Farallone Is- 
lands, forty miles out at sea, can be traced rising 
in the misty distance like the white walls of a vast 
storehouse. The checkered streets of San Fran- 
cisco with its shipping may be seen upon one 
hand and the dome of the State House at Sacra- 
mento upon the other. In the north looms up 
the weird Buttes and the snow clad Shasta, and 
in the east the cloud capped Sierras. Thirty-six 

244 



MONTE DIABLO. 

towns and villages can be counted from this ele- 
vation; bays, rivers and islands lie before the 
vision as if traced upon a map. Suisun Bay and 
San Pablo appear like little inland lakes. It is 
said that one of the most sublime features of this 
locality is its storms ; as there is neither thunder 
nor lightning accompanying them, there is little 
to fear except the temporary effect of the wind. 
The voice of the storm is an indescribable high 
toned roar, the crash, din and tumult being 
really enjoyable. These coast mountains have 
not the grand old pine forests of the Sierra Ne- 
vadas, the growth being limited to scrub oak and 
small shrubs and many of them only the dried 
grasses to cover the naked earth. Still there is 
something attractive about them if it is only to 
give a crooked variety of outline to the horizon. 
The foot-hills are fertile and susceptible of culti- 
vation as well as making an excellent range for 
grazing purposes. I tarried four days about 
Monte Diablo, and had the pleasure of seeing 
one of the most gorgeous sunsets that I ever 
beheld. 

The ocean fog and mist came flying up the 
ravine past the hotel in such distinct vapory 
forms as to cause one to speak of them as living 

245 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

creatures. In fact, the canon seemed a thorough- 
fare where the fog was drafted by the air 
from the ocean and valley to certain points near 
the mountain tops. The course of these flying 
vapors was so marked, and they flitted so steadily 
but silently by, that they formed a feature of 
great interest. The doors of the hotel had been 
closed to prevent any straggling damps from 
entering; everything appeared foggy and gloomy. 
All at once a west window was lighted up, as if 
by the sudden blaze of a bonfire. A young girl 
screamed and looked frightened, exclaiming "O 
dear, the valley is all on fire!" As the sun was 
sinking in the west and his beams assumed the 
right focus, all this gloom changed in the twink- 
ling of an eye, and the fog became a bright flame 
color, still keeping its billowy identity. View- 
ing it from the elevation of the hotel some dis- 
tance above the valley the effect was wonderful. 
In a few moments it changed from a flame color 
to a light yellow, and as the sun disappeared it 
shed a beautiful pink shade upon the mist, giving 
the ravine and whole valley the appearance of 
being draped in undulating folds of pink tarlton. 
This gradually faded to white, then to a leaden 
blue, and the last that I saw of the scene, those 

246 



MONTE DIABLO. 

misty ghosts were chasing one another up the 
ravine, just as they did before the illumination, 
only a little faster and with vapors more con- 
densed. 

The next morning I ascended the summit that 
I might see what had become of those foggy 
flocks driving for the hill tops the night before. 
There they were to my astonishment; having 
reached a certain altitude they had halted to rest, 
hovering over the foot-hills upon the south side 
of Monte Diablo, completely covering them from 
sight, like so many snowy fleeces, for they had 
changed the lead colored traveling dress and 
were all robed in white. The summit of Diablo 
was entirely above this ocean of mist and upon 
the north the landscape was as clear as if the 
hills upon the south side of the point were not 
entirely enveloped in this downy covering. ¥7hat 
a kind provision of nature! the drafts of air 
suck these clouds of fog up the ravines ; here they 
cling around the hill tops until eaten up by a 
tropical sun, or are poured out in draughts of 
rain, which runs into the valleys, giving this 
water first to the mountains, next to the valleys, 
lastly the rivers. Truly, 

247 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

"He moves in a mysterious way, 
His wonders to perform." 

At this season of the year the clouds do not 
amount to rain, although they moisten vegeta- 
tion wherever they appear, that is, all along the 
coast, and save the necessity of irrigation. 

Old Sol in his morning rounds searches out 
every obscure hollow or indentation where 
vapors had dared to gather during his tempor- 
ary absence, and when his beams strike the spot 
little spirits of vapor are seen to rise up as dis- 
tinctly and rapidly as the smoke from the flue 
of a chimney and are gone in a moment, swal- 
lowed by this yellow-faced ogre. Looking down 
upon this ocean of fog, I could imagine it peo- 
pled with ethereal beings, as it would recjuire 
but an occasional flap of angel wings to keep 
afloat upon this beautiful sea of glory. 

When sinking nearly through, one could 
obtain a rare view of the scarlet poppy fields, 
the soft green hills and picturesque animal life 
peacefully grazing, and while the sun is scatter- 
ing the fog-cloud, I look to the north and see 
the discolored waters of the Sacramento and the 
San Joaquin rivers wth their soiled tributaries 
slowly coursing along, uniting in one body before 

248 



MONTE DIABLO. 

passing the Golden Gate to enter the great peace- 
ful ocean. Tracing these rivers from their source 
until they reach their destiny, how much they 
resemble the course of human life ! Falling from 
the clouds a pure snow-flake, pillowed for a time 
upon the lofty mountain tops, there to be warmed 
into liquid bodies, carried below by circumstances 
to the great world of usefulness, for a time main- 
taining its purity of color to the admiration of 
the sentimental tourist and practical native, dis- 
pensing blessings to thirsty vegetable and animal 
life. As it descends further, it is concentrated 
into iron pipes and wooden flumes and dashed 
with Niagara force into the red clay bank to 
start from its hiding place the yellow gold dust 
which it baptizes to a new life of usefulness. 
Here the die is cast, henceforth, until the sea is 
reached, must the river which first came to earth 
a snow-flake, travel through all its life of utility 
with the stain of soil upon its bosom, and the 
signs of its uses marked in all its varying phases. 
The days of its romance are ended, the dashing 
cascade and coquettish waterfall, its wayward 
wanderings through groves and woods, its deep 
and quiet thoughtful moods, its spreading out to 
hold the plain then shrinking to its banks again, 

249 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

an emblem of our life to lend, it chafes its banks 
until the end. 

If it were not for contemplating the destruc- 
tion of life and property in the valleys, the rising 
of those rivers from Monte Diablo would be one 
of the grandest sights in the world. Swollen 
five times their natural size, filled with monster 
trees and drift-wood of every conceivable shape, 
the mountains sending their furious little torrent 
down their sides, and the roaring rapid current 
lending the fascination of force to the scene, all 
together forming a fearful, moving picture, while 
we could stand on Monte Diablo's top and view 
the landscape o'er. These scenes have the effect 
upon my nature to arouse sleeping sublimity 
and veneration, and once a day I resolve myself 
into a Methodist prayer meeting, stealing away 
around the hills where I have a fine view of the 
valley, here to sing sacred pieces and read a selec- 
tion from the Psalms of David. I found pecu- 
liar comfort in reading aloud the Church of Eng- 
land burial service, for I imagine the green, 
oblong mounds to be the graves of the gods 
where they have lain down to rest themselves 
after some fatiguing labors, with their heads 
reclining heavenwards, and have forgotten to 

250 



MONTE DIABLO. 

rise again and become a part of the everlasting 
hills to share alike in their misty cloud-caps, 
purple mantles and beautiful dresses of green 
and autumn brown. The birds seem to catch the 
inspiration of the scene and remain suspended 
on fluttering wing, hovering over the enchanted 
valley. 

I returned to the Central Pacific Eailroad and 
practical life by the Sanramoon Valley to Liver- 
more. This route to Monte Diablo is most desira- 
ble. The Sanramoon Valley is one of the most 
productive spots in the whole State and is under 
fine cultivation. Fields of wheat were standing 
fence high, green as a meadow, and level as a 
house floor, and so heavily laden as to tremble 
in the breeze from their weight. Orchards loaded 
with fruit; in fact, everything wearing a look of 
luxuriant prosperity. The soil is dark and rich. 
Shade trees are planted for miles along the pub- 
lic highway. The meadow lark, and linnet, quail 
and robin, all were singing ^'more wheat, big 
wheat, sweet wheat, we'll eat the wheat.'' 



251 



OHAPTEIt XXXV. 



SKETCHES. 



ASSISTING GIFTED GIRLS. 

Mrs. Churchill has, in the course of her career, 
rescued several helpless girls, so that they have 
been able to do better for themselves than many 
do with willing parents. In the early '70s, in 
Sacramento, California, she defeated a bill cal- 
culated to relegate all single women who sup- 
ported themselves to the level of the policeman's 
will. This was done with a burlesque, which 
treated the men in exactly the same way that 
women were being treated. The House and Sen- 
ate concluded that this was no more than just, 
so would not vote on one bill unless the other 
could be voted upon also. This same bill was 
mooted in Denver, when Mrs. Churchill appeared 
upon the scene with a package of her bills, and 
the other disappeared. At Austin, Texas, dur- 
ing the administration of Governor Koberts, 
Mrs. Churchill had the bill presented and passed 
that keeps the Police Gazette from being sold 

252 



SKETCHES. 

upon the news stands. This law has been 
adopted in several different states and spoken of 
as a success. Mrs. ChurchilFs motto has ever 
been to do the race good, and not evil, all the 
days of her life. She also says it is the interest- 
ing people who are subject to criticism, and 
those whom we would like to drag to a demo- 
cratic level. 

A REMARKABLE MEMORY. 

Mrs. Churchill is endoAved with a most remark- 
able memory for recitation, the ability to com- 
mit to memory being very rare. She tells an 
amusing story of herself when first sent to Sun- 
day school in the U. S. of A. Where she had 
lived prizes were given children who committed 
the most verses. Things were different in the 
U. S. But the child tried her own method as 
being the best she had at command, and felt 
greatly aggrieved when she learned that she had 
overdone the thing. There were lessons to be 
committed by the class, most of whom were not 
expected to get over two verses in the new tes- 
tament. When Mrs. Churchill was called upon 
to begin at the first verse of the chapter, she only 
ceased the recitation when it was time to close 

253 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

the school. She was then but thirteen years of 
age and weighed about sixty-five pounds. She 
thinks now that the teacher made herself fully 
as ridiculous by coming the next week to engage 
the little Canadian as a teacher. When the child 
heard the proposition made to her grandmother 
she slipped out and hid herself in a hen house, 
evidently alarmed, and remained until grand- 
mother called to her to come in. 

THE IRISH FAMINE. 

About this time, in 1845-'6-'7, the so-called 
civilized world was shocked with the terrible 
famine in Ireland, which cost 40,000 lives, on 
account of the failure of the potato crop. Mrs. 
Churchill came in contact with the Irish of the 
United States, and learned more about the dread- 
ful situation than would have been probable un- 
der any other circumstances. A great part of 
the food sent to those people from this country 
never reached them, or reached them in such an 
adulterated state as to be unfit to sustain life. 
Mrs. Churchill's grandmother owned a row of 
frame tenements that were rented to the best of 
the laboring class of Irish tenants. It was those 
tenants who kept her wrought up over the calam- 

254 



SKETCHES. 

ities of the Irish. Here is where Mrs. Churchill 
imbibed the necessity of investigating Komanism, 
and doing what she could all through life to ex- 
pose the cruel, brutal results of having a religion 
a thousand times more degrading than paganism. 

THE CONVALESCENT AT ALPINE^ COLORADO. 

Mrs. Churchill was once at Alpine, Colorado, 
a small mining camp, in the interests of her pa- 
per, then a weekly. There was a woman at the 
hotel who had been ill of a fever. This woman 
was the wife of the cook and had been confined 
to her bed for &Ye or six weeks. The woman 
heard Mrs. Churchill was in the house, and sent 
for her. The woman stated that her fever was 
broken, and that she might now get well if there 
was any one to give her care, but that she would 
die of want; that a hotel cook, who performed 
the work of preparing three meals a day for the 
public, had not much time to devote to his fam- 
ily, and that the same boiled dinner and steak 
would be sent to her that would be served a 
strong man, and, what was worst of all, she had 
not been bathed since taken ill ; that her bed had 
not been changed, nor her room once cleaned up. 
Mrs. Churchill was through with her own busi- 

255 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 

ness, and had two or three hours at her command 
before the time to take the train. The inquiry 
made as to the hour the last meal was taken by 
the patient, she found enough time had elapsed 
to make it safe to give the patient a bath. Mrs. 
Churchill sent for warm water and bathed the 
woman with her own hands, reserving the feet 
until she should sit up to have her bed changed, 
that they might be well soaked in salt and water. 
The feet were washed and wiped and her hair 
was combed. The patient was able to clean her 
own teeth. It was most pathetic to see her per- 
form the task of brushing her own teeth, in her 
weakness. The landlord was now in sight. Mrs. 
Churchill requested him to get a pail of boiling 
water and a mop and sponge the floor entirely. 
The dust was taken up by draining the mop and 
swabbing the floor as hot as it was possible. 
Things dry so quickly in this climate. A roll of 
new carpet, standing in the hall, was brought in 
and laid upon the floor, fresh and clean. Every 
article of bedding was changed, the room swept, 
and furniture dusted. Her garments were 
changed for fresh things, and when she was put 
on the bed she said she had not felt as well since 
she had been taken sick, but now she knew she 

256 



SKETCHES. 

was going to get well. A list of articles to be 
cooked for her to eat and change for every meal 
for a week were arranged until she would be able 
to dictate her own diet. Mrs. Churchill saw her 
several years afterwards, when she was the 
mother of two children, and she always gave Mrs. 
Churchill credit for saving her life. 

THE ROYAL GORGE. 

The Arkansas river is, next to the Missouri, 
the largest contributory of the Mississippi; is 
2,000 miles long, and navigable nine months of 
the year eight hundred miles from the mouth. It 
divides the great state from which it takes its 
name into nearly two equal parts. Almost at 
the upper end of this interesting water course 
occurs the wonderful cleft in the rocks known 
as the Royal Gorge, one of the wonders of Colo- 
rado, as well as of the world. This gorge is not 
far from the beautiful city of the canon, called 
Canon City, a lovely place for residence and a 
shipping point for a fertile fruit valley. The 
sources of the great water courses of the country 
must ever be matters of interest to the tourist, 
as well as its distinguished peaks. No one 
should miss the Royal Gorge when touring in 
Colorado. 

257 



ACTIVE FOOTSTEPS. 



CANON CITY — A POEM. 



Ah Canon! loveliest little city of the Colorado 

plain, 
Thy life is agricultural, with slow but steady 

gain. 
The spring time brings the blossoms forth from 

many fruitful trees. 
Eeally the harvest time for swarms of worldly 

bees. 
Later in the season the currant blushes red, 
The cabbage lifts above the plain his green ma- 
jestic head. 
The ripening grain, the purple vine with a world 

of garden truck, 
Come in the golden harvest time to sustain the 

miners' pluck. 
Ah Canon ! loveliest little city of the Colorado 

plain, 
Thy life is agricultural, with slow but steady 

gain. 

C. N. 0. 



258 



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